The Lake at Hakone

The rocky mountain that fills most of the picture is painted like patchwork, with planes of different colors fitted along its contours. Rather than the actual color of the mountain, this is a way of drawing that expresses its steepness through color and form, making it one of the boldest prints in the Hoeido edition.

At the lower right of the rock face, along the steep path in the valley, tiny figures of a daimyo procession continue in a line. The smallness of the people strongly conveys the size of the mountain and the harshness of the road.

On the left, the lake spreads in deep blue, and beyond the ranges behind it a small snow-capped Mount Fuji peeks out. Hakone was a pass regarded as one of the most difficult on the Tokaido, and a checkpoint was also placed there. Through the contrast of the steep mountain and the quiet lake, Hiroshige expresses the character of the place.

Red and brown planes also overlap on the rocky mountain at right, suggesting the rich variety of rock faces in sunlight. The whiteness of Fuji and the deep blue of the lake create a quiet contrast beside the colorful rock. The Hakone checkpoint stood on the shore of Lake Ashi, and travelers were questioned there. This print does not show the checkpoint itself but represents Hakone through the scenery of lake and mountain.