UTAGAWA HIROSHIGE - Totsuka: View of Mount Fuji from the Mountain Road

THE ARTWORK

"Totsuka: View of Mount Fuji from the Mountain Road" is a woodblock print by the Japanese artist Utagawa Hiroshige from his series "Collection of Illustrations of Famous Places near the Fifty-Three Stations [Along the Tōkaidō]" (sometimes called "Famous Sights of the Fifty-Three Stations"). Hiroshige's famous "Fifty-Three Stations of the Tōkaidō" series, which features the actual stations themselves, is a separate but related body of work.

In this print, Hiroshige portrays the view of Mount Fuji from Totsuka, the sixth station along the Tōkaidō Road. The Tōkaidō was one of the five highways connecting the shogun's capital in Edo (modern-day Tokyo) to the imperial capital in Kyoto, passing through numerous stations along the way. Hiroshige's depiction captures the scenic beauty of the landscape around Totsuka, showcasing Mount Fuji in the distance, with travelers and locals going about their activities along the mountain road.

The text in the top right corner of the print reads 五十三次名秀图會六 (Gojūsan-tsugi meisho zukai, roppu), which means “Pictures of Famous Places of the Fifty-Three Stations, Six.”

THE ARTIST

Utagawa Hiroshige (1797-1858) was a towering figure in Japanese woodblock printing, alongside his well-known counterpart Hokusai. While Hokusai captured drama and movement, Hiroshige's true passion was landscapes. He used innovative compositions and atmospheric effects to showcase the beauty of everyday life in Edo (modern-day Tokyo) and the journeys along famous travel routes.

His most celebrated series, "One Hundred Famous Views of Edo," is a testament to his skill. These prints captivated audiences with their serene beauty and bustling activity, showcasing iconic locations in Edo and surrounding areas. Hiroshige wasn't just a documentarian; he was a master of observation. He used subtle color variations and clever perspective tricks to create depth and capture the changing moods and seasons of the landscapes he depicted.

Hiroshige's influence extended beyond Japan. By incorporating some Western artistic elements, like deep perspective, into his prints, he unknowingly contributed to the "Japonisme" movement that would later influence European artists in the late 19th century, such as Vincent Van Gogh and Claude Monet

THE PRINT

• A4 Size = 29.7cm x 21cm = 11.7" x 8.25"
• A3 Size = 42cm x 29.7cm = 16.5" x 11.7"
• High resolution giclée print - 600dpi
• Printed to order
• Unframed & unmounted
• Professionally printed using Canon imagePROGRAF printers
• Digitally restored by OharaPrints from high resolution scans of the original artwork
• Made in and shipped from Casterton, Victoria, Australia

PAPER

• Canson Infinity - Arches BFK Rives White
• Paper weight = 310gsm
• 100% cotton
• Archival, museum grade
• Acid free
• No OBAs (optical brightening agents)

Arches BFK Rives is a high-quality, archival-grade paper manufactured at the Arches paper mill in France - one of the oldest papermakers in Europe. It is made from 100% cotton rag using a time-honoured manufacturing process, giving the paper exceptional durability, longevity, and resistance to yellowing or deterioration over time. Despite its substantial weight and thickness it maintains a very soft and supple feel. The paper has a natural white tone and is completely free of any optical brighteners (OBAs), allowing for superb colour rendition and deep blacks.

INK

• Canon Lucia Pro Inks
• Pigment based
• Archival, museum-grade
• Brilliant colours, even gradient and razor-sharp lines
• Highly stable and fade resistant, excellent humidity-fastness

SHIPPING & HANDLING

• All orders are dispatched on the NEXT BUSINESS DAY after receiving the order
• All prints are shipped via AUSTRALIA POST with TRACKING
• For postage rates and estimated delivery times please see our SHIPPING page
• All prints are shipped flat, not rolled
• Each print is individually placed into a resealable, archival grade plastic protective sleeve
• Prints are carefully packaged in very sturdy 700gsm cardboard envelopes, along with 1050gsm boxboard sheets which provide extra strength & rigidity to prevent bending or folding during transit