)Published by Yuuyuudou – Katsushika Hokusai (1760-1849) – Tsukuda Island in Musashi Province – From the series “Thirty-six Views of Mt. Fuji”

Description

Woodblock print (reprint)Published by Yuuyuudou – Katsushika Hokusai (1760-1849) – Tsukuda Island in Musashi Province – From the series “Thirty-six Views of Mt. Fuji” – Late 20th century

Published by Yuuyuudou

Carver: Matsuda Torazou 松田虎蔵
Printer: Endou Tadao 遠藤忠雄

The island of Tsukuda was a fishing village lying near the mouth of the Sumida River. Hokusai views the island from a high position. Like any other fishing village, Tsukuda’s harbors are filled with rows of masts. Many different types of boats are being rowed to and from the island. Hokusai seems to take delight in the boats’ construction. He depicts their rising stem posts, gunwales,decks, thwarts, and rudder mechanisms in careful detail. The foremost boat, with its covered foredeck and a crewman hauling on a line, is masterfully foreshortened. Over the slightly curved horizon, snow-capped Mount Fuji rises near the center, and small masts of sailing boats appear at the left. The scene probably depicts sunset, not dawn, for Tsukuda Island is a deep shade of blue, which would convey the feeling of evening, despite the pink sky.