One example of Japanese art which encompasses the theme of realism is Utagawa …show more content…
All of the people in the piece are holding Japanese umbrellas to shield themselves from the rain. Due to the depiction of everyone carrying an umbrella is an implication that the rain was not unexpected. It is not clear where they are coming from, but it seems that they are returning home. The one side of the bridge is represented and it appears that this side contains houses and shelter. One may assume that the other side of the bridge may be the marketplace and more urban part of the town. Another clue to the absent side being urban and the shown side being housing is that all of the people are running in the same direction. There is not one person traveling in the opposite direction. If the other side is in fact a market place, once the rain started, all of the activity and business probably ended. This is only my opinion of the absent side of the bridge. I could be entirely wrong since no person seems to be carrying any bags or items. However we are only getting glimpses of their backs and one view of the image. I only stated my guess of where they are coming from because I am …show more content…
Using Hiroshige's piece as the same example, we can further go into detail about the piece and see that it is a woodblock print which was a part of the Edo period of Japan. The Edo period was a period in which just about anyone was able own a nice piece of artwork. Art was not only available to the wealthy anymore. Although this type of artwork seems simple, it still carries artistic beauty. The artists who created the woodblock prints created simple and flat designs that could be produced easily, so many people could purchase and have their own art. Furthermore, if the pieces contained the theme of realism, just about anyone could relate to the art pieces. Artwork of common situations and scenes that were simply produced were a common fad of Japan during the modern