Here is a beautifully printed and edited reproduction of the complete "Famous Views of the [Sixty-odd] Provinces" (Rokujuyoshu meisho zue, 1853-1856), by Utagawa Hiroshige. Conceived just before his great final series, the "One Hundred Famous Views of Edo," this 69-plate collection of ukiyoe woodblock prints is less personal, less idiosyncratic, and appears consequently a bit less unexpected.
Nonetheless, it contains enough beauty and individuality to reward attention. For one thing, the print layout is vertical rather than horizontal. This means a different kind of suggested spaciousness -- for example, much more sky than is usual for such images. For another thing, this sky, as well as the broad sweep of bays and ocean common to this series, is shown through Hiroshige's growing mastery of the technique of bokashi (graduated printing).
Hiroshige would print the background, then on the same block, moisten over the area to be shaded. A brush with color on one side and water on the other would be stroked across the paper and the pigment would flow toward the water, creating a gentle cross fade.
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