25 Utagawa Hiroshige 1797 – 1858 Evening Snow on the Hira Range

from the series Omi hakkei no uchi (Eight Views of Omi)
publisher: Eisendō (Nishimuraya Yohachi)

This print depicts the snow-covered peaks of the Hira Mountains rising above Lake Biwa, with quiet village roofs, fields and water in the foreground. The poetic cartouche in the upper left contains a waka celebrating the moment when the snowfall has ceased at dusk on the Hira heights – a scene said to surpass even the peak of cherry-blossom beauty. Hiroshige employs refined bokashi gradation and restrained colouring to convey the stillness and vastness of the winter landscape.

This print is likely a later impression from the original woodblocks.