Japanese print, Hiroshige Utagawa, Night snow in Kambara

Japanese print, Hiroshige Utagawa, Night snow in Kambara

Title: Night Snow at Kambara
Dimensions: 30 x 40 cm

This piece is a faithful reproduction of the woodblock print "Night Snow at Kambara" by the great ukiyo-e master Hiroshige Utagawa, one of the most renowned Japanese artists of the 19th century. It is part of the famous series The 53 Stations of the Tōkaidō, depicting various locations along the journey between Edo (modern-day Tokyo) and Kyoto.

Description of the Work

The print portrays a snowy landscape at night in Kambara, one of the stations along the Tōkaidō road. The snow blankets the scene in a calm, almost mystical atmosphere. The contrast between the bright snow and the dark night creates a poetic and serene ambiance.

• Main Scene: A group of travelers and porters walk through the snowy landscape, protected by dark cloaks against the cold. They move slowly under the falling snow, leaving footprints in the freshly fallen snow, evoking a sense of tranquility.
• Background: Majestic mountains rise in the distance, covered in snow, while bare trees stand out against the dark sky, their shapes emphasizing the depth of the scene.
• Sky and Snow: Snowflakes gently fall over the entire scene, while the cold, moonlight softly illuminates the elements, highlighting the texture of the snow and the solitude of the landscape.

Features of the Print

• Colors: The use of blue and white against a dark background enhances the icy and mysterious feel of the nighttime scene. Shades of gray and blue create a striking contrast that captures both the simple beauty of nature and the particular atmosphere of winter.
• Composition: The perspective is subtly rendered, with detailed foreground elements and a background that gradually fades into deeper shadows, giving a sense of distance and calm.

This reproduction allows the viewer to appreciate Hiroshige’s technical mastery, especially in his ability to capture fleeting moments of everyday life while evoking deep emotion through the simplicity of the landscape.