Who painted 京都名所之内嶋原出口之柳|Gate of the Shimbara?

京都名所之内嶋原出口之柳|Gate of the Shimbara was painted by Utagawa Hiroshige in 1828.

Where can I see 京都名所之内嶋原出口之柳|Gate of the Shimbara?

京都名所之内嶋原出口之柳|Gate of the Shimbara is held by Metropolitan Museum of Art.

What movement is 京都名所之内嶋原出口之柳|Gate of the Shimbara?

京都名所之内嶋原出口之柳|Gate of the Shimbara is associated with Romanticism.

Artwork

京都名所之内嶋原出口之柳|Gate of the Shimbara

Utagawa Hiroshige , 1828

京都名所之内嶋原出口之柳|Gate of the Shimbara is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Utagawa Hiroshige. It dates from 1828 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

About this work

Overview

Utagawa Hiroshige’s woodblock print *Gate of the Shimbara* (1828) depicts the entrance to the historic Shimbara district of Kyoto. Executed in ink and color on paper, the image captures a bustling street framed by a wooden gate, with figures moving, conversing, and carrying parcels beneath a night sky illuminated by a faint moon.

Subject & Meaning

The composition centers on everyday activity at a city gate, highlighting the flow of pedestrians and the architecture of the surrounding area. By placing ordinary travelers against the backdrop of a tiled-roof building and trees, Hiroshige emphasizes the lived experience of Kyoto’s neighborhoods rather than theatrical entertainment scenes.

Technique & Style

Hiroshige employs the ukiyo‑e woodblock method, using bold, flat colors and simplified geometric forms to convey depth. The dark gate creates a framing device, while cross‑hatching and subtle tonal variations suggest shading. A muted moon emerging from cloud cover adds a quiet counterpoint to the lively street.

History & Provenance

Created as part of Hiroshige’s series of famous Kyoto locations, the print entered the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it remains catalogued as an example of early 19th‑century Japanese landscape printmaking.

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.