This captivating ukiyo-e print beautifully encapsulates the serene morning scene at Beppu harbor. The artist skillfully balances the composition, placing a large traditional wooden vessel with its dark sails prominently in the midground while smaller boats and groups of people animate the foreground. The expansive mountain silhouette in rich blue hues dominates the background, gradually fading into a pale yellow sky as dawn breaks. The meticulous yet fluid linework outlines the boats’ rigging and figures with gentle precision, while the color palette — a harmonious blend of soft blues, muted earth tones, and the awakening warmth of early sunlight — evokes a tranquil mood reflecting the peaceful start of a day in this Japanese port town.

The print’s balanced composition draws the eye from the detailed figures gathered near the shore to the vastness of the landscape beyond, creating a captivating interplay between human activity and nature’s looming presence. The layering of color gradients, achieved through traditional woodblock printing techniques, demonstrates not only technical finesse but a tender reverence for the natural and cultural atmosphere of early 20th-century Japan. This work, a part of a series showcasing Japanese landscapes, invites viewers to experience the quiet dignity of daily life and the majestic beauty of the land through a poetic and timeless lens.