Auspicious Dreams

Description

This print is part of Ogata Gekko’s series “One Hundred Fujis”. Mount Fuji stands tall in the background, extending beyond the image's outlines into the margin, an element already used by Hiroshige to enhance the impressiveness of Mount Fuji. 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 aubergine. 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 aubergine should be present in the current print as well, and it seems to be, somewhat hidden, in the cartouche.