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Moon over the Ara River, Akabane

Art Appreciation

Bathed in the serene glow of a full moon, this evocative woodblock print captures a tranquil nocturnal scene on a riverside. A modest, dimly lit hut nestles quietly in the foreground, its warm windows hinting at life within, while just beyond, a solitary boat gently drifts on the calm, mirror-like surface of the Ara River. The boat, silhouetted against the shimmering reflection of the moonlight, adds a poetic rhythm to the composition. Above, clouds delicately frame the moon, their edges catching the subtle gradations of twilight blues that seamlessly shift from deeper hues near the horizon upward to lighter shades high in the sky.

The artist masterfully balances light and shadow with traditional ukiyo-e techniques; fine, crisp lines define the silhouette of the roof and vegetation, while soft gradations in color wash create an impression of depth and atmosphere. The composition draws the eye naturally from the illuminated windows through the moonlit river and up to the sky, marrying the human presence intimately with the vastness of nature. This print not only invokes a gentle stillness that invites quiet contemplation but also reveals the timeless relationship between humanity and the natural world—a relationship enhanced by the softly diffused glow and the whisper of the night.

Moon over the Ara River, Akabane

Hasui Kawase

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Date unknown

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843 × 1200 px

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