Artist: Utagawa (Ando) Hiroshige (歌川広重) Title: Lake in Hakone Mountains Series: "Eight Landscapes on the Front Postal Road" (表街道路八景) Size: approx. 23 × 32 cm Publisher: Takamizawa Reprint year: 1970s Original: ca. 1835–1838 Takamizawa was second only to Adachi Hanga in terms of quality, and their works were also aimed at museums. Anyone holding one of their prints immediately understands why: deep Prussian blue, flowing bokashi gradations in the sky and water, and the finest linework make Hiroshige’s landscapes glow. Each sheet was traditionally hand-printed — using perfectly aligned woodblocks and coloring that comes remarkably close to the originals. The print also comes with its **original washi folder**, including an acid-free protective sheet to preserve the colors, as well as an **English and Japanese note** providing details about the artwork. Abou the work This is a lovely piece—"Lake in Hakone Mountains" (箱根山中湖水の図) by Utagawa Hiroshige, presented in the distinctive uchiwa-e (fan print) format. According to the accompanying documentation, this print belongs to a serial work entitled "Eight Landscapes on the Front Postal Road" (表街道路八景). The "Front Postal Road" refers to the Tōkaidō Highway along the Pacific coast, as opposed to the Kiso Highway leading through the mountainous central Japan regions. Of the eight serial landscapes, only four are known to exist today, and of these, "Lake in Hakone Mountains" is considered the best—though all but one of its original prints have been lost. The composition is remarkable for its decorative quality. Hiroshige designed the picture specifically to be printed on a fan, exquisitely laying out a wintry lake view within the unusual curved frame. The description notes that compared with most other Hiroshige works, this landscape is sketched and colored more elaborately and decoratively. The snow-laden pine trees, falling snowflakes, the vivid blue of the lake, and the layered mountain ranges create a scene of serene winter beauty. Travelers with pack horses and a figure carrying bundles brave the snowstorm, adding human scale to the dramatic landscape.