Sōshū Umezawa
Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji
Katsushika Hokusai
Artwork Description
Sōshū Umezawa depicts a quiet stretch of land near present-day Ninomiya in Kanagawa Prefecture, along the Tōkaidō route. Unlike many works in the series that animate the landscape with travelers and laborers, this composition removes human presence entirely.
In the foreground, seven cranes occupy a marshland: five feed calmly while two rise into the air. The crane, a traditional symbol of longevity and auspicious fortune, transforms the scene from simple topography into symbolic landscape.
Mount Fuji rises softly in the background, rendered in subdued blue tones that blend seamlessly into the sky. Bands of pale clouds stretch horizontally, reinforcing compositional stillness. The dominant blue palette recalls the influence of aizuri printing and contributes to the spiritual atmosphere.
The title includes the character “hidari” (left), though many scholars believe this may result from a carving or printing error, suggesting the intended character was “shō” (manor or estate). This ambiguity adds a subtle historical layer to the work’s identity.
Through restraint and symbolism, Hokusai elevates a modest rural view into a meditation on fortune, longevity, and quiet endurance. The absence of human figures intensifies the sense of contemplative calm. Fuji does not oversee activity here; it presides over silence.
About Katsushika Hokusai
Katsushika Hokusai was one of the most influential ukiyo-e artists of the Edo period. Active as both painter and printmaker, he expanded ukiyo-e beyond actor portraits into landscapes and scenes of everyday life.
In Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji, Hokusai explores movement and stillness, labor and faith, industry and emptiness. Fuji serves not merely as scenery but as a constant presence across varied human and symbolic conditions.
Reproduction
This work is a 20th century lithographic reproduction of Hokusai’s Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji.
It is not an original Edo period woodblock print, but a later limited edition lithograph.
Hand printed and numbered 180/300 in pencil on the lower margin.
Details
Medium: Lithograph
Edition: 180/300
Size: 410 mm × 600 mm
All artworks are sold as shown in the photographs.
