Picture of River Ukiyo-e

Origin Story

Once upon a time there was a young boy who lived in a small village on the banks of the river. He liked to sit by the bank and watch the water flowing quietly, listen to the soft chirping of the birds and smell the scent of the wildflowers growing all around. One day, as he sat there admiring the beauty of his surroundings, he noticed a painting hanging on a tree not far from him. It was an ukiyo-e titled "River", signed by Keisai.


The young boy was immediately fascinated by this work of art and began to observe every detail with attention: the vibrant colors used to represent the different shades of the current; the distinct shapes of the rocks that lay in the middle of the river; the leaves floating on its calm and peaceful surface; and even the reflection of the sun on the sparkling water. This canvas captivated the boy so well that he began to imagine what it would be like to be immersed in this magical place…


He couldn't help but go back to see this image every day to dive back into it again and again. Each time he went there, he regained hope by seeing how beautiful nature could be despite everything that was happening around him. He understood then that Keisai had succeeded in capturing with talent the purity and tranquility that we all need to soothe us during our most difficult moments.