Artwork

東京名所 上野公園内国勧業第二博覧会美術館図|Illustration of the Museum at the Second National Industrial Exhibition in Ueno, from the series Famous Places in Tokyo (Tokyo meisho-Ueno kōen naikoku kangyō daini hakurankai bijutsukan zu)

東京名所 上野公園内国勧業第二博覧会美術館図|Illustration of the Museum at the Second National Industrial Exhibition in Ueno, from the series Famous Places in Tokyo (Tokyo meisho-Ueno kōen naikoku kangyō daini hakurankai bijutsukan zu), by Utagawa Hiroshige III, ink, 1881
東京名所 上野公園内国勧業第二博覧会美術館図|Illustration of the Museum at the Second National Industrial Exhibition in Ueno, from the series Famous Places in Tokyo (Tokyo meisho-Ueno kōen naikoku kangyō daini hakurankai bijutsukan zu), by Utagawa Hiroshige III, ink, 1881

東京名所 上野公園内国勧業第二博覧会美術館図|Illustration of the Museum at the Second National Industrial Exhibition in Ueno, from the series Famous Places in Tokyo (Tokyo meisho-Ueno kōen naikoku kangyō daini hakurankai bijutsukan zu) is an ink print by the Impressionist artist Utagawa Hiroshige III. It dates from 1881 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

About this work

Overview

This triptych woodblock print, titled Illustration of the Museum at the Second National Industrial Exhibition in Ueno, is part of the series Famous Places in Tokyo. Created by Utagawa Hiroshige III in 1881, it is now part of The Metropolitan Museum of Art's collection.

Subject & Meaning

The print depicts a bustling scene around a large, red-brick building with arched windows, identified as the Museum at the Second National Industrial Exhibition in Ueno Park. The three panels show visitors in traditional attire engaging in various activities: observing a tall, spraying fountain in the central panel, and walking, conversing, or standing near lampposts and trees in the outer panels.

Technique & Style

Executed in ink and color on paper, the work showcases characteristic woodblock print techniques, including vibrant colors and intricate patterns. The artist likely employed cross-hatching to achieve shading, evident in the detailed rendering of the building, foliage, and figures.

History & Provenance

Produced in 1881 by Utagawa Hiroshige III, the print is currently housed at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, with no detailed provenance provided for its journey to the museum.

Context

Created during Japan's Meiji period, this work captures a moment of modernization and cultural exchange, as evidenced by the depiction of a Western-style exhibition hall attracting traditionally dressed visitors.

Legacy

As part of the Famous Places in Tokyo series, this print contributes to the documentation of late 19th-century Tokyo's transformation. Its preservation in a prominent Western museum reflects the global interest in Japanese woodblock printing techniques and Meiji-era cultural dynamics.

Artist & collection