Nagasaki, Maruyama no Ke - Utagawa Hiroshige II

A woodblock print by Utagawa Hiroshige II depicting women in a Nagasaki pavilion, observing the harbour through a telescope.

This woodblock print belongs to the series A Hundred Views of Famous Places in the Various Provinces, a project initiated by Utagawa Hiroshige and completed by his successor, Utagawa Hiroshige II. The composition depicts a scene in the Maruyama district of Nagasaki, a location historically associated with entertainment and foreign trade.

The print features two women within an elevated pavilion. One figure gazes through a telescope towards the harbour, while the other stands nearby holding a vessel. The architectural elements, including the veranda and the decorative railings, provide a structured frame for the view of the water and distant mountains. The inclusion of the telescope reflects the influence of Western technology in Nagasaki, which served as a primary port for international exchange during the Edo period.

Technically, the work employs the traditional ukiyo-e method of multiple woodblocks to apply colour. The palette balances the deep blues of the water and structural details with the warmer tones of the women's garments and the wooden architecture. The sky transitions into a soft gradient, a common technique in prints of this era to suggest the time of day. The artist maintains a clear separation between the foreground figures and the background, using the balcony as a transition point. This print offers a glimpse into the cultural intersection of traditional Japanese life and the external influences present in Nagasaki during the mid-nineteenth century.