Artwork

東海道五十三次之内 濱松 冬枯の図|Hamamatsu, Toko no Zu

東海道五十三次之内 濱松 冬枯の図|Hamamatsu, Toko no Zu, by Utagawa Hiroshige, ink, 1834
東海道五十三次之内 濱松 冬枯の図|Hamamatsu, Toko no Zu, by Utagawa Hiroshige, ink, 1834

東海道五十三次之内 濱松 冬枯の図|Hamamatsu, Toko no Zu is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Utagawa Hiroshige. It dates from 1834 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

About this work

Overview

Hamamatsu, Winter Scene is a woodblock print by Utagawa Hiroshige, created circa 1834 for his series The Fifty-three Stations of the Tōkaidō. This horizontal-format print captures a winter scene at the coastal station of Hamamatsu.

Subject & Meaning

The print depicts four figures engaged in fieldwork on a snowy day. Two individuals sit near a bare tree, with visible breath steam merging with the tree's trunk, while two others work in the distance. The scene conveys everyday life amidst winter's chill.

Technique & Style

Executed in ink and color on paper, the work showcases Hiroshige's skill in rendering atmospheric details. Soft, pale blue skies and the interplay of steam with natural elements exemplify his landscape-focused approach within ukiyo-e.

History & Provenance

Part of The Fifty-three Stations of the Tōkaidō series, this print documents a stop along the Edo to Kyoto route. Created during the Edo period, it reflects Hiroshige's departure from typical urban ukiyo-e subjects towards landscape emphasis.

Context

As part of a travel route series, Hamamatsu, Winter Scene highlights Hiroshige's interest in seasonal and geographical storytelling, appealing to travelers and armchair explorers of 19th-century Japan.

Legacy

This print contributes to Hiroshige's reputation as a master of landscape ukiyo-e, influencing subsequent artists with its serene, detailed depictions of natural scenes across seasons.

Artist & collection

Portrait of Utagawa Hiroshige

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.