Artwork

東海道五十三次藤川|Fujikawa, from the series The Fifty-three Stations of the Tōkaidō Road

東海道五十三次藤川|Fujikawa, from the series The Fifty-three Stations of the Tōkaidō Road is an ink print by Utagawa Hiroshige. It is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

About this work

Overview

This woodblock print, Fujikawa, is part of Utagawa Hiroshige's series The Fifty-three Stations of the Tōkaidō Road. Created using ink and color on paper, it showcases Hiroshige's skill in capturing serene landscapes.

Subject & Meaning

The print depicts a tranquil winter scene at Fujikawa, a stop along the Tōkaidō Road. A loaded horse stands before a row of houses, set against a snowy backdrop with a gray sky, evoking a sense of stillness and cold.

Technique & Style

Hiroshige employed subtle color tones to convey the winter atmosphere, using muted hues to create a calm and peaceful mood. The composition is characteristic of his landscape works, which departed from the traditional ukiyo-e focus on urban life.

History & Provenance

The Fifty-three Stations of the Tōkaidō Road series was created by Hiroshige, a prominent ukiyo-e artist of the late Edo period. Although the exact date of this print is not specified, Hiroshige's work on the series is well-documented.

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.

Museum

Metropolitan Museum of Art

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