This print is from Hiroshige’s ‘The Harbours of Japan (Niho Minato Zukushi 日本湊尽)’, which was originally created in about 1840 ~ 1842.

Shimonoseki is a large port located at the west end of Honshu (the Japanese mainland). Kyushu is on the opposite side of the Kaimon Straits, which are now connected by undersea tunnels.

Hiroshige must have seen this busy port where amazingly large ships full of goods are going back and forth.

At the lower right a person is trying to connect two small boats so that people can climb up the ladder to the larger ship - it looks very unstable and scary.

Very dark blue color is applied at the bottom, turning lighter as it moves higher through the ‘bokashi’ technique, effectively enhancing the depth of field of the view.