Shirasuka: Shiomi Slope - Utagawa Hiroshige

A classic ukiyo-e woodblock print by Utagawa Hiroshige depicting the coastal view from Shiomi Slope at Shirasuka station.

Utagawa Hiroshige produced this woodblock print as part of his famous series, The Fifty-three Stations of the Tokaido. This specific design represents Shirasuka, the thirty-second station on the coastal route connecting Edo and Kyoto. The composition focuses on Shiomi-zaka, or Shiomi Slope, which provided travellers with their first expansive view of the Pacific Ocean when journeying from the west. The image uses a bold diagonal to divide the space. A steep, green hillside occupies the right foreground, where small figures of travellers ascend a winding path. Hiroshige employs a sharp vertical drop to suggest the height of the cliff. Below, the blue expanse of the Enshu Sea stretches toward the horizon. Small fishing boats appear as minimal dark shapes on the water, while a V-shaped formation of birds crosses the pale sky. Hiroshige used the bokashi technique to create the colour transitions in the sky and water. The deep blue at the top of the print and the bottom of the sea area provides a frame for the lighter central tones. This print is from the Hoeido edition, published around 1833. It demonstrates the artist's ability to balance topographical accuracy with atmospheric effect. The use of Prussian blue, a pigment that had recently become more accessible in Japan, is evident in the sea and sky. The station of Shirasuka was originally located closer to the shore. However, a massive earthquake and tsunami in 1707 destroyed the original town. The residents subsequently moved the settlement to the top of the plateau for safety. Hiroshige captures the physical effort of the climb while contrasting it with the calm, horizontal lines of the ocean. The inclusion of the birds and the distant boats adds a sense of movement to the otherwise still landscape. This work remains one of the most recognisable scenes from the series due to its clear geometry and effective use of negative space in the sky.