Japanese print Strikingly realistic, faithful to the natural landscapes of Japan - Hiroshige's Mannenbashi Bridge in Fukagawa

"Mannenbashi Bridge in Fukagawa" (original title: 深川萬年橋) is a woodblock print by the Japanese painter and illustrator Utagawa Hiroshige (1797-1858) produced in November 1857.

This illustration depicts a scene framed by the structure of a bridge and a wooden barrel, from which hangs a rope holding a turtle for sale. At the center of the composition is the landscape of the Fukagawa River, dotted with reed islands and crisscrossed by several boats. In the lower right corner, the silhouette of a rower can be seen. In the background, Mount Fuji majestically reigns. This scene symbolizes the confrontation between the land-based commerce represented by the turtle for sale and the eternal sacredness of Mount Fuji, underscored by the importance of the Mannenbashi Bridge, also known as the "Ten Thousand Year Bridge." The symbolism of longevity associated with the turtle resonates with the name of the bridge. Despite the striking contrast between the two planes, the composition remains balanced, a typical characteristic of Hiroshige's style.