The Kiso Mountains in Snow

Utagawa Hiroshige was one of the most outstanding masters of Japanese ukiyo-e woodblock prints. His landscape series had a tremendous influence not only on the artists of his time but also on the future Impressionists.

This particular piece, from the series "One Hundred Views of Mount Fuji," is a woodblock print created in Hiroshige’s signature ukiyo-e style — a genre that portrays the beauty of nature and everyday life. The color palette is minimal, consisting of blue, white, and gray shades. Yet this simplicity adds to the work’s charm, transporting the viewer into a frosty day when even the brush is coated with a fine layer of snow. The snow, in particular, gives the piece a special sense of movement and spatial depth.