Japanese Ukiyo-e & Literature - Awareness Post

I never thought I would love Japanese Literature and Art as much as I do. Manga, Anime, and other literature and art from Japan are wonderful, and as much as I do honor them, my respect lies with the classical art of the Tokugawa period Ukiyo-e art. It is scenic, peaceful, and feels like an intimate moment in time that the viewer gets to keep for themself. This piece in particular, named "Kajikazawa in the Kai Province" captured my imaginiation, because of how tranquil the people and nature seem going about their daily lives. It reminds one of the book "The Sound of Waves," a book I've recently fallen in love with since we are reading it World Literature. It's set on a small island named Uta-jima, which is a fishing island, which is why this artwork remind me of it. The book and this piece hold an air of simplicty and straightfoward morals, which makes it feel almost dream-like. The book is a story about honor, hard-work, and fighting for someone, and all of those things feel very applicable in my life. I cherish the book so much that it almost hurts now that I have finished it, but when I see Ukiyo-e art now, I respect it all the more and cannot wait to read more of its books. Like this piece, I would like to achieve balance, but not without lots of color in my artwork.