Auspicious Dreams

Description

Ogata Gekko’s woodblock print from the series One Hundred Fujis shows Mount Fuji standing tall in the background, extending beyond the image's outlines into the margin, an element already used by Ukiyo-e artists such as Hiroshige to heighten the presence of Mount Fuji even further. In front of it, the branch of a pine tree is visible, along with a hawk. A hanging scroll painting with a similar composition and theme is also known. In that work, the hawk holds an eggplant. The hawk, Mount Fuji, and aubergine are symbols considered to spell good fortune for one who encounters them in the first dream of the new year, with the pine tree also representing good fortune in general. As such, one might think that the eggplant should be present in the current print as well, and it seems to be, somewhat hidden, in the cartouche.