Artwork

Full Moon over Takanawa, from the series Famous Places in the Eastern Capital

Full Moon over Takanawa, from the series Famous Places in the Eastern Capital is a print by the Romanticist artist Utagawa Hiroshige. It dates from 1831 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.

About this work

Overview

Full Moon over Takanawa is a print by Utagawa Hiroshige, created circa 1831 as part of his series Famous Places in the Eastern Capital. It is a representative work of the artist's landscape prints, which redefined the ukiyo-e genre.

Subject & Meaning

The print depicts a serene nocturnal scene: a full moon rises over a tranquil body of water, with birds in flight, boats near the shore, and a curved bridge. The composition captures the atmospheric beauty of a notable Edo location.

Technique & Style

Hiroshige employed bold outlines and flat colors to convey a sense of peacefulness. The moon is rendered as a glowing circle, while the birds are simplified into lively shapes, demonstrating the artist's distinctive style.

Context

This work is part of a series documenting famous sites in and around Edo, reflecting Hiroshige's interest in landscapes and travel. It showcases his ability to expand the ukiyo-e genre beyond its traditional focus on urban entertainment.

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.