Antique Japanese woodblock print depicting the peaceful and refined beauty of Japanese nature - Hiroshige's Kawaguchi Ferry

"The Kawaguchi Ferry and Zenkōji Temple" (original title: 川口のわたし善光寺) is a woodblock print by the Japanese painter and illustrator Utagawa Hiroshige (1797-1858) produced in February 1857.

The Sumida River is the main subject of this plate, a river which, in this section (spring), is frequently called Arakawa—meaning the northern boundary of Edo. The river is presented diagonally, with a darker shade in the middle, as in the previous print. Several rafts float on the waters as well as a boat that serves as a ferry; the work on the diagonals formed by the rafts constitutes the main element of the composition. Touches of yellow color brush the roofs of the huts at the top of the image while behind them is the Zenkō-ji temple, famous for its hibutsu (secret Buddha) which is displayed only every seventeen years. A year after Hiroshige drew the print, the Buddha in the Amida Hall above was to be displayed publicly for the first time in 13 years; Perhaps Hiroshige partially covers the room of this hibutsu with the title cartouche to echo the famous secret.