Utagawa Hiroshige
1847-52

In this bijin-ga triptych, women wearing kimono’s exclusively in browns, greys, and blues are crossing the Tamagawa River with the ferries at Rokugō. The elegant sight of the women crossing the river and enjoying the beautiful view of Mt. Fuji perhaps evoked a sense of excitement for the beginning of a journey beyond the capital within Edo period audiences. This bijin-ga print also reveals the care and detail Hiroshige put into the landscapes of many of his prints despite it not being the focal point. From 1845-55, Hiroshige produced many bijin-ga triptychs that had exquisitely detailed backgrounds of landscapes, this print being an example.
The Tenpō Reforms of 1841-43 brought restrictions to many avenues of commoner life, including restrictions upon ukiyo-e prints depicting people (bijin-ga and actor prints alike), the number of color blocks that could be used in landscape prints, and restrictions on what colors and fabrics commoners could wear. This print reflects this restrictive period immediately following the enactment of the reforms. The coloration of the women’s kimonos in shades of browns, greys, and blues are reflective of these restrictions.