Hiroshige II, Naruto Whirlpools, Traditional Japanese Art

Artist: Hiroshige II Utagawa (1826-1869)
Title: True View of the Naruto Whirlpools, Awa (Ashu) Province
Series title: One Hundred Famous Views in the Various Provinces
Publisher: Uoya Eikichi
Date: 1859-1861
Size: 22.9 x 35.7 cm
Condition: Trimmed, torn top left corner, strip of paper along the back right edge, light soiling and some pigment spots.
As with many of Hiroshige II's prints, those comprising the series 'One Hundred Famous Views in the Various Provinces' borrowed compositional elements from his teacher Hiroshige I Utagawa, in this case echoing his 'Famous Views of the Sixty-odd Provinces'. At this point, he had just started using his teacher's name, who had recently passed away, therefore the prints in this series are signed 'Hiroshige'.
The narrow Naruto straight connecting the eastern Inland Sea and the Kii channel is situated between Awaji island and Naruto village in Awa province. This place is famous for its whirlpools created by rapid tidal changes and the resulting differences in water level. This print gives a beautiful view of the rocks and waves, their size contrasted with the minute figures walking along the shore at the bottom of the print.
Ref: JG0525U14-51