Stone Carrying Boat, Awa — 石積む舟

Awa, the old province corresponding to present-day Tokushima Prefecture on Shikoku island, was historically known for its rivers and coastal transport networks. This print depicts a working cargo vessel loaded with stone—likely quarried local rock transported by river or along the coast—placing Hasui within the tradition of depicting laboring Japan alongside its scenic landscapes. The composition probably shows the low-slung boat heavy in the water, its cargo stacked amidships, with boatmen visible against a landscape of hills or riverbanks. Hasui's interest in vernacular working life alongside famous scenic views distinguishes his travel series from purely pictorial landscape work. The stone boat's weight and utilitarian geometry contrast with the natural surroundings, while Hasui's printmakers would have used precise color registration and careful karazuri (blind embossing) or fabric texture techniques to convey the rough surface of quarried stone against smooth water.