Enoshima in Sagami Province - Katsushika Hokusai

A classic woodblock print by Katsushika Hokusai showing the island of Enoshima at low tide, with Mount Fuji visible in the distance.

Enoshima in Sagami Province is a woodblock print from the series Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji. Katsushika Hokusai produced this collection during the height of his career, capturing the iconic peak from various locations across Japan. This specific composition depicts the island of Enoshima at low tide, revealing the sandbar that connects it to the mainland.

Small figures traverse the exposed path, providing a sense of scale against the architecture of the island village. The structures, with their thatched roofs and stone foundations, nestle into the verdant slopes. In the distance, the silhouette of Mount Fuji rises above the horizon, its snow-capped summit echoing the pale tones of the sky. Hokusai employs a controlled palette, using Prussian blue for the water and sky, which contrasts with the warm, earthy yellows of the sand and rooftops.

The print demonstrates the technical precision of the Ukiyo-e tradition. The lines are clean and deliberate, defining the shapes of the buildings and the contours of the terrain without unnecessary clutter. The composition balances the busy activity of the foreground with the stillness of the distant mountain. This work reflects the artist's interest in the relationship between human activity and the natural environment. It remains a clear example of the graphic clarity and spatial organisation that defined Hokusai's approach to printmaking. The use of colour is restrained, allowing the composition to communicate the atmosphere of the coastal scene effectively. As a piece from the Thirty-six Views series, it documents the geography of the Edo period, offering a view of a site that was a popular destination for pilgrims and travellers during the nineteenth century.