Fine Art

Yoro Falls in Mino Province (Mino no Yoro no taki), from the series "A Tour of Waterfalls in Various Provinces (Shokoku taki meguri)" — History & Facts

A towering waterfall plunges from the cliffs at the center of the composition, rendered in bold, vertical bands of deep blue and pale turquoise that contrast with the soft yellow-green of the surrounding rocky landscape. On the left, the rocky terrain is dotted with small bushes and trees, their foliage depicted in shades of green and outlined with delicate lines. Two figures in broad-brimmed hats and blue clothing stand near the base of the falls, gazing upward toward the cascade, their posture suggesting awe or contemplation.

To the right, beneath a slanted shelter made of straw or reeds, several more figures gather, some seated and one leaning forward, all facing the waterfall. The shelter is angled to echo the diagonal thrust of the falling water, its thatched roof rendered with energetic, parallel strokes of white and blue. Trees rise on either side of the scene, their trunks and branches traced in green and brown, framing the waterfall and leading the eye upward to the cliffs above.

The sky is filled with a dense blue at the top, fading into soft clouds and pale yellow, suggesting a humid atmosphere around the falls. Throughout the print, the colors are applied in flat, even areas, typical of ukiyo-e technique, with crisp outlines and subtle gradations that create a sense of depth and movement. Small details, like the pattern of waves in the lower left and the scattered leaves on the ground, add texture and vitality to the landscape. Yoro Falls in Mino Province (Mino no Yoro no taki) belongs to the series A Tour of Waterfalls in Various Provinces (Shokoku taki meguri) by Katsushika Hokusai, produced around 1832 or c.

1833. The print depicts Yōrō Falls, a well-known site in Mino Province, and is an example of the meisho-e genre, which focuses on famous places.

Sources: Art Institute of Chicago, record 1925.3396 · Wikidata Q60231127

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