Artwork

横浜賣物図会の内唐犬|Copper Plate Engraving of a Woman Riding a Horse, a Goat and a Dog

横浜賣物図会の内唐犬|Copper Plate Engraving of a Woman Riding a Horse, a Goat and a Dog is an ink print by the Impressionist artist Utagawa Hiroshige II. It dates from 3 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

About this work

Overview

Executed in ink and color on paper, the image presents a solitary female figure astride a dark brown horse, accompanied by a black goat and a light‑brown dog.

This woodblock print, titled “横浜賣物図会の内　唐犬,” is attributed to the Edo‑period artist Utagawa Hiroshige II. Executed in ink and color on paper, the image presents a solitary female figure astride a dark brown horse, accompanied by a black goat and a light‑brown dog. The composition is framed by a tranquil landscape of trees and blossoms, and the work belongs to the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Subject & Meaning

The central figure is a woman dressed in a white robe patterned with purple swirls, her head adorned with a red band. She holds the horse’s reins in her left hand and a whip in her right, suggesting control and movement. The presence of the goat and dog, positioned at her side, adds a pastoral element, hinting at themes of domesticity and harmony with nature.

Technique & Style

Created using traditional Japanese woodblock methods, the print combines line work with layered pigments to achieve vivid coloration. Hiroshige II’s handling of the animal forms—particularly the contrast between the dark horse and the lighter companion animals—demonstrates a careful balance of line and color that typifies late‑Edo printmaking.

History & Provenance

The print was produced in the early 19th century, during Hiroshige II’s active period following his apprenticeship under the more famous Hiroshige. It entered the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s collection through acquisition in the 20th century, where it has been catalogued as part of the museum’s extensive Japanese prints holdings.