Kitagawa UtamaroⅡ 1804-18 A typical scene of Enoshima Island, a woman riding on an ox pulled by a boy, is illustrated in this print. Many artists used the combination of women and oxen in their works. This custom can also be seen in the book Souvenirs of Enoshima Island written by Jippensha Ikku. In the epilogue of the story, there is a line that reads “As people pay homage to Zenkōji Temple, with oxen leading their way, many people are headed to Iwamoto-in Temple, to pay homage to Enoshima Island.” Also, in the story, there is a scene of an ox handler waiting for customers at Shichirigahama Beach.

Kitagawa UtamaroⅡ 1804-1818 This piece depicting two women with a male attendant follows a typical composition commonly found in prints depicting Enoshima Island pilgrims. However, the addition of a child selling turban shells, illustrated on the left, is very rare. On the right side, a cherry blossom behind a pine tree is in full bloom, suggesting the season is spring, most likely around April. The artist Kitagawa Utamaro II was a pupil of Utamaro I and inherited the name after his teacher’s death. He was known for his works depicting beautiful women that closely follow Utamaro I’s style.

Utagawa ToyokuniⅡ 1825-34 In the upper half of this print, the view of Enoshima Island and Mt. Fuji is expressed through aizuri (indigo print), a technique in which the subject is depicted using various shades of blue. In the lower half, a popular courtesan of the time is writing a letter. Tsuru-ya in the title refers to a famous Edo period establishment at the red-light district Yoshiwara and Kashiku is the professional name of the courtesan from that establishment.

Utagawa ToyokuniⅡ 1830-34 This print is one of Toyokuni II’s most renowned work. The striking expression of the rain, which cuts across the silhouette of Mt. Ōyama, shows the intensity of the wind and rain. In the middle portion of the print, pilgrims are depicted climbing up stone steps with one carrying a wooden sword meant to be dedicated to the shrine atop Mt. Ōyama. Mt. Ōyama, located at present day Isehara City of Kanagawa Prefecture, became popular during the Edo period as the destination for Ōyama-mairi (or Ōyama Pilgrimage), a pilgrimage to Afuri Shrine. In reflection of its popularity, Ōyama-mairi was incorporated into various medias such as Kabuki and Rakugo during the Edo period.

Subtitle: View of the Summit from the Former Fudō Temple Utagawa ToyokuniⅡ 1830-34 Subtitle: The View of Ayu (Sweetfish) Fishing at Tamagawa River On the evening of the full moon, people are using nets to fish Ayu (Sweetfish) in Tamagawa River. Tamagawa River was a scenic place appearing in waka poetry, known for its beautiful view of the moon and Ayu.

Utagawa ToyokuniⅡ 1830-34 Subtitle: Seiken-ji Temple in Suruga Province and the Distant View of Yoshiwara Post Station Wild geese fly in formation with the sunset and Mt. Fuji in the background. The road with travelers walking depicted on the left is likely the Tōkaidō Highway. Seikein-ji Temple is illustrated near the pagoda, located on the right side of the road. Seiken-ji Temple is known for its association with Tokugawa Ieyasu, the founder and first Shōgun of the Tokugawa Shogunate. Ieyasu was educated by the chief priest of Seiken-ji during his stay in Suruga Province as a hostage to the Imagawa Clan.

Subtitle: True View of Ōshima Island from Atamigahama Beach Utagawa ToyokuniⅡ 1830-34 The light red color seen in the middle of the print represents the setting sun. This print depicts the port of Atami, which is surrounded by mountains on three sides, with people seine fishing at the beach. In the background of the print, black smoke rising from Mt. Mihara, an active volcano located in Ōshima, is depicted alongside with a small island, likely Hastushima, to its left.

Subtitle: The Complete View of Naka-shuku from Shimonomiya Sengen Shrine Utagawa ToyokuniⅡ 1830-34 With the grand Mt. Fuji in the background, Shimonomiya (lower shrine located at the foot of Mt. Fuji) is depicted in this print. As the title “Evening Snow” suggests, the orange color from the sunset is seen near the foot of the snow-clad Mt. Fuji.