Who painted 名所江戸百景神田紺屋町|Dye House at Konya-cho, Kanda?

名所江戸百景神田紺屋町|Dye House at Konya-cho, Kanda was painted by Utagawa Hiroshige in 1857.

Where can I see 名所江戸百景神田紺屋町|Dye House at Konya-cho, Kanda?

名所江戸百景神田紺屋町|Dye House at Konya-cho, Kanda is held by Metropolitan Museum of Art.

What movement is 名所江戸百景神田紺屋町|Dye House at Konya-cho, Kanda?

名所江戸百景神田紺屋町|Dye House at Konya-cho, Kanda is associated with Impressionism.

Artwork

名所江戸百景神田紺屋町|Dye House at Konya-cho, Kanda

Utagawa Hiroshige , 1857

名所江戸百景神田紺屋町|Dye House at Konya-cho, Kanda is an ink print by the Impressionist artist Utagawa Hiroshige. It dates from 1857 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

About this work

Overview

Dye House at Konya-cho, Kanda is a woodblock print created by Utagawa Hiroshige in 1857, part of his seminal series One Hundred Famous Views of Edo. Executed in ink and color on paper, the work adopts a vertical format.

Subject & Meaning

The print depicts a mundane scene of a dye workshop in the Konya-cho district of Kanda, observed through a patterned white and blue curtain. The composition juxtaposes everyday urban life with a serene natural backdrop, highlighting Hiroshige's shift towards capturing landscapes and ordinary life in ukiyo-e.

Technique & Style

Characterized by Hiroshige's meticulous observation, the print features a distinctive visual layering: a foreground curtain with blue motifs, a red sign bearing Japanese script, and a distant mountainscape set against a gradated light blue and pink sky, evoking dawn or dusk.

History & Provenance

Produced in 1857, Dye House at Konya-cho, Kanda is now part of The Metropolitan Museum of Art's collection, testifying to its enduring appeal and the artist's influence.

Context

This work reflects Hiroshige's innovative contribution to late Edo period ukiyo-e, diverging from the genre's traditional focus on entertainment scenes to emphasize local landscapes and daily activities.

Legacy

As part of One Hundred Famous Views of Edo, Dye House at Konya-cho, Kanda contributes to Hiroshige's lasting impact on the representation of Edo's (Tokyo's) pre-modern identity, influencing both Japanese and Western artistic perceptions of the city.

Artist & collection

Artist

Utagawa Hiroshige

Utagawa Hiroshige (歌川広重) or Andō Hiroshige (安藤広重), born Andō Tokutarō (安藤徳太郎; 1797 – 12 October 1858), was a Japanese ukiyo-e artist, considered the last great master of that tradition.