No. 39: Agematsu, from the series Sixty-nine Stations of the Kisokaido - Utagawa Hiroshige

A woodblock print by Utagawa Hiroshige depicting the mountain station of Agematsu, featuring the Ono Waterfall and travellers on a bridge.

This woodblock print is part of the series Sixty-nine Stations of the Kisokaido, a collaborative project between Utagawa Hiroshige and Keisai Eisen. The series documents the journey along the Kisokaido, an inland route connecting Edo and Kyoto. This specific sheet depicts Agematsu, a station known for its dramatic topography and the Ono Waterfall.

Hiroshige employs a vertical emphasis to convey the scale of the mountain pass. The composition is anchored by the Ono Waterfall on the left, rendered with clean, parallel lines to suggest the force of falling water. A wooden bridge spans the foreground, providing a structural element that guides the viewer into the scene. Two travellers stand upon the bridge, one gesturing towards the waterfall, while a third figure carrying a heavy load of brushwood walks away from the viewer. The inclusion of these figures provides a sense of scale against the imposing rock formations.

The colour palette relies on muted blues, soft greens, and earthy tones, typical of the printing techniques of the period. The rock faces are defined by bold, simplified shapes, reflecting the aesthetic conventions of the Ukiyo-e school. The print captures the atmosphere of a remote mountain pass, balancing the natural environment with the presence of human activity. The cartouche in the upper right corner identifies the series and the specific location, maintaining the standard format for travel prints of the nineteenth century. This work demonstrates the artist's ability to synthesise observation with the stylistic requirements of the woodblock medium, resulting in a clear, narrative image of the Japanese interior.