Utagawa Hiroshige was born as the son of a low-class samurai. He became an ukiyo-e apprentice at the age of 15 and a professional artist at 16. The following year Hiroshige traveled alone to Kyoto via the Tokaido, a highway along the Pacific coast, as a governmental messenger. Peddlers can also be seen carrying fish they have bought at a nearby fish market.
People bend low as they hurry along in the thick snow.
This is a masterpiece depicting the relationship between people and nature. A sudden shower causes the bamboo grove to sway wildly. Men are seen running up the hill with a palanquin. Designs like this one, with a strong sense of movement, are unusual for Hiroshige. Click on the image for a bigger view.