Utagawa HIROSHIGE (signed Hiroshige Ga), Kamewari Pass in Echigo Province,

from the Series “Wrestling Matches between Mountains and Seas” (Sankai Mitate Zumô), 1858

「山海見立相撲」は広重の最晩年に刊行されたシリーズで、山と海の対抗戦をテーマにした大判横絵20枚の揃い物です。山と海10枚ずつで構成されています。題名の書かれた軍配団扇は初摺が三色になっていて、後摺が赤一色に変わります。この作品には、北陸街道の難所で、現在の新潟県中南部に位置する亀割峠が描かれていますが、とても広重らしい構図で遠近感がよく表現されている一枚です。綺麗な青い海を敢えて小さく描き、より圧倒するかのようにふんだんに使われた緑色が印象的です。また、この山道を歩いて峠へ向かう人物の配置によって人々の流れが想像しやすく、まさにライブカメラを見ているような作品と言えます。版元　山田屋庄次郎

“Wrestling Matches between Mountains and Seas” (Sankai Mitate Zumô) is a series published in Hiroshige's last year, and is a set of 20 large-format horizontal paintings on the theme of Sumô wrestling matches between mountains and seas. It consists of 10 prints depicting mountains, and 10 prints depicting seas.  The wrestling umpire’s fan (like those used by the Sumô referees), with the titles, is printed in three colors in the first state of the prints, and only in red in the later states. This rarely seen print depicts the Kamewari Pass, which is located in present-day central and southern Niigata Prefecture, and was a difficult place on the Hokuriku Highway. With a great sense of perspective - typical of Hiroshige's style - in its composition, the beautiful blue sea is dared to be drawn in a small size, and the abundant use of green color leaves a strong impression. In addition, the way Hiroshige drew the person walking along this mountain path makes it is easy to imagine the flow of people toward the pass, like as if one would be watching a live camera nowadays. Published by Yamadaya Shôjirô.