View of Mt. Fuji from Beneath the Shin Ohashi Bridge

歌川国芳 『東都富士見三十六景』「新大はし橋下の眺望」

The iconic peak of Mt. Fuji, which was visible from many places in Edo (present-day Tokyo) and the surrounding area, became popular as a subject in prints of the 1830s and 1840s. Novelty-seeking artists presented the peak from many surprising vantage points, just as it might be encountered in daily life. In this playful version by Kuniyoshi, the mountain is seen at a distance, dwarfed by the looming supporting piers of Shin Ohashi Bridge. A small barge floats down the Sumida River under the bridge, heading downstream toward Eitai Bridge, just visible at far left. Focused on their work, neither boatman seems to notice Fuji. One stands lookout over a constructed "mountain" of cargo while the other guides the boat through the narrow channel. Beyond dense reeds appears a glimpse of the white-walled warehouses that line the opposite shore, indicating the commercial life of the capital.