Artwork

諸國瀧廻リ相州大山ろうべんの瀧|Rōben Waterfall at Ōyama in Sagami Province (Sōshū Ōyama Rōben no taki), from the series A Tour of Waterfalls in Various Provinces (Shokoku taki meguri)

諸國瀧廻リ相州大山ろうべんの瀧|Rōben Waterfall at Ōyama in Sagami Province (Sōshū Ōyama Rōben no taki), from the series A Tour of Waterfalls in Various Provinces (Shokoku taki meguri) is an ink print by the Japonisme artist Katsushika Hokusai. It dates from 1804 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

About this work

Overview

Katsushika Hokusai’s woodblock print, created in 1804, depicts the Rōben Waterfall at Ōyama in the historic Sagami Province. Part of the larger series “A Tour of Waterfalls in Various Provinces,” the image is executed in ink and color on paper and is currently in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Subject & Meaning

The composition centers on a towering cascade that tumbles over a rugged cliff, shrouded in a veil of mist. Figures in traditional robes gather on a wooden bridge and beneath a modest pavilion, their gestures suggesting admiration and contemplation of the natural spectacle. The scene conveys a harmonious interaction between humans and the dramatic landscape.

Technique & Style

Hokusai renders the waterfall’s spray with a field of fine stippled dots, evoking the fleeting quality of mist. Bold, saturated greens, blues, and earth tones define the foliage and rock faces, while cross‑hatching in the background creates a sense of depth. The print’s dynamic line work and vivid palette exemplify the ukiyo‑e approach to landscape.

History & Provenance

Produced as the fifth or sixth print in the “Shokoku taki meguri” series, the work was printed using traditional multicolor woodblock methods. After circulating in the early 19th‑century Japanese market, the print entered Western collections in the early 20th century and was acquired by the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it remains on view.

Context

During the Edo period, travel guides and scenic series were popular among urban audiences eager for visual tours of distant locales. Hokusai’s waterfall series reflects this trend, documenting notable natural sites across Japan while showcasing his mastery of perspective, atmospheric effects, and the commercial woodblock printing process.