Sarugababa Rest Stop at Futakawa

Most of the picture is occupied by a gently spreading hill. Countless small pines, called hime-komatsu, are drawn on it and continue to the back along the undulations of the hill. The line of the hill runs diagonally from the upper left to the right, and a pale green gradation softens the boundary between hill and sky. Near the top of the hill, two especially tall pines stretch slender.

Walking the road in the foreground are three goze, blind women itinerant entertainers. Goze traveled around the country, making a living by playing the shamisen and other instruments and singing for listeners. According to the Tokyo Fuji Art Museum, each of the three carries an instrument. The indigo of their kimono and the ocher of their large hats stand out against the gray road.

On the sign at the teahouse at the far left is written Famous Kashiwa Mochi, showing that kashiwa mochi was the local specialty here. Inside the shop a customer rests alone. Sarugababa, named in the title, was a place known for its view of hime-komatsu. Without placing a grand highlight, the print expresses the loneliness of the highway through a wide hill and small human figures. The teahouse pushed to the left edge and the two tall trees give weight to the broad, open picture.