Echizen, section of sheet no. 10 from the series "Cutout Pictures of the Provinces (Kunizukushi harimaze zue)"

Art Historical Context

**Echizen, from *Cutout Pictures of the Provinces (Kunizukushi harimaze zue*)** This delightful woodblock print by Utagawa Hiroshige, created in 1852, captures the essence of Echizen province as part of his innovative series *Kunizukushi harimaze zue*. Hiroshige, a master of the ukiyo-e tradition and the Utagawa school, was renowned for his evocative landscapes, as seen in his famous *Fifty-three Stations of the Tōkaidō*. Here, he shrinks grand vistas into a compact, whimsical format—a section from sheet no. 10—measuring just 13.2 × 15.8 cm, perfect for collectors to cut out and arrange like a personalized scrapbook. The *harimaze* style, meaning "collage pictures," exemplifies late Edo-period ingenuity in woodblock printing. Artisans carved intricate blocks to produce vibrant colors and fine details through multiple impressions, allowing mass production of these affordable, playful sheets. Each depicted a Japanese province, blending tourism, nostalgia, and artistry to celebrate the nation's diverse beauty during a time of growing domestic travel before Japan's opening to the West. Housed in the Art Institute of Chicago's Arts of Asia department, this print highlights Hiroshige's genius for distilling nature's poetry into intimate spaces, inviting viewers to imagine wandering Echizen's rugged coasts and misty mountains. A charming snapshot of 19th-century Japanese print culture!

About the Artist

Utagawa Hiroshige · 1826–1869

Utagawa Hiroshige (1797–1858), born Andō Tokutarō, was the last great master of Japanese ukiyo-e woodblock printmaking and one of the most influential landscape artists in history. Born in Edo (modern Tokyo) into a low-ranking samurai family serving as fire wardens, Hiroshige transformed landscape printmaking into a poetic meditation on nature, weather, and everyday life. His revolutionary approac...