Senshu, Ushidaki Tano - Utagawa Hiroshige II

A woodblock print by Utagawa Hiroshige II depicting the Ushidaki waterfall in Senshu, framed by autumn maple leaves.

This woodblock print belongs to the series 'A Hundred Views of Famous Places in the Various Provinces', a collaborative project that followed the success of earlier topographical series. Utagawa Hiroshige II, a student and successor to the master Utagawa Hiroshige, produced this work during the final years of the Edo period. The composition employs a common ukiyo-e device: framing the distant scenery through a foreground element. Here, the dark, sturdy trunk and branches of a maple tree dominate the immediate view, their autumn foliage rendered in shades of russet and brown.

Beyond the frame of the tree, the eye travels to the Ushidaki waterfall in Senshu province. The water cascades down a verdant hillside, contrasting with the muted tones of the foreground. The artist uses a clear, graphic approach to define the mountain ridges and the architectural structure visible on the right bank. The sky transitions from a deep blue at the top to a pale yellow near the horizon, suggesting the light of late afternoon.

Technically, the print demonstrates the precision of the woodblock medium. The lines are clean, and the colour blocks are applied with care to maintain the balance between the natural elements and the human-made structures. The inclusion of the series cartouche in the upper right corner identifies the work within the broader collection of provincial views. This print offers a glimpse into the aesthetic priorities of the mid-nineteenth century, where the observation of nature and the documentation of regional sites were central to the production of popular art. The work remains a clear example of the technical standards maintained by the Utagawa school during this period.