Artwork

諸国名所図会内西京東山一覧|A Glimpse of Higayashiyama the Western Capital, from the series Famous Places in the Nation (Shokoku meisho zukai no uchi-Saikyō Higashiyama ichiran)

諸国名所図会内西京東山一覧|A Glimpse of Higayashiyama the Western Capital, from the series Famous Places in the Nation (Shokoku meisho zukai no uchi-Saikyō Higashiyama ichiran) is an ink print by the Impressionist artist Utagawa Hiroshige III. It dates from 1880 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

About this work

Overview

Created in 1880 by Utagawa Hiroshige III, this triptych of woodblock prints forms part of the series *Shokoku meisho zukai* (Famous Places in the Nation). The work depicts a lively park scene in western Kyoto, known as Higayashiyama, and is currently in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Subject & Meaning

The three panels present a festive gathering: a woman in a long, patterned robe walks near a small bridge; a group of elegantly dressed figures recline on a wooden platform; and a further crowd, some with fans, enjoys the view of a distant mountain shrouded in clouds. The composition celebrates leisure and seasonal enjoyment in an urban park setting.

Technique & Style

Executed with ink and vivid pigments on paper, the prints employ the characteristic ukiyo‑e approach of bold line work and flat areas of color. Strong outlines define figures and architecture, while saturated reds, greens, and purples contrast sharply with the white background, creating a lively visual rhythm without the use of chiaroscuro.

History & Provenance

The triptych was produced during the late Meiji period, a time when Hiroshige III continued the tradition of landscape prints for popular booklets. After its original publication, the work entered private collections before being acquired by the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it remains on view as part of the museum’s Japanese prints holdings.