Nagare Pleasure Quarter, Kanazawa

Catalog note / 解説

Hasui and Hiroshige were both interested in exploiting the atmosphere of a nighttime composition, as can be seen here in these two images. Hiroshige depicts a night sky laden with tiny points of starlight across the sky (HAA#22725). The natural wood grain of the block sends a series of vertical striations in the sky and on the water behind the single figure, giving the scene a mysterious and shimmering quality. Hasui, on the other hand, uses the reflection of lamps on the water to create visual interest in the foreground. Besides the slight light coming from within the building, there is very little else to indicate human presence in the dark night scene.(from Nostalgic Japan exhibition 6/8…