Another favorite Japanese ukiyo-e artist of mine is Utagawa Hiroshige (1787-1858). Hiroshige is considered to be one of the last great ukiyo-e masters.

The print above of the Awa Whirlpool (from the “Famous Views of 60-odd Provinces” collection) is a masterpiece of color using the ukiyo-e woodblock print technique.

Whirlpools have long represented portals to other worlds and times (e.g. The Odyssey by Homer, along with various myths and legends). Unaffected by the forces around it…and in a sense fed by those forces…the whirlpool maintains its center.

Photo source: Awa Whirlpool