Artwork
東海道五十三次 神奈川 台の茶や|Kanagawa
東海道五十三次 神奈川 台の茶や|Kanagawa is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Utagawa Hiroshige. It dates from 1840 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Overview
This woodblock print is part of Utagawa Hiroshige's series *The Fifty-three Stations of the Tōkaidō*, created around 1840. It depicts a scene at Kanagawa, showcasing the artist's skill in landscape ukiyo-e.
Subject & Meaning
The print captures a lively riverside scene at Kanagawa, featuring a tea house and various daily activities. The composition includes buildings, people, boats, and a sailing ship, conveying a sense of movement and life along the Tōkaidō road.
Technique & Style
Hiroshige employed bright colors and simple shapes to convey the essence of the scene. The use of clear outlines and flat colors within the buildings and trees adds to the print's visual clarity and stylization, characteristic of ukiyo-e.
History & Provenance
The print is now held in The Metropolitan Museum of Art's collection, exemplifying Hiroshige's contribution to the ukiyo-e genre and his focus on landscapes beyond the typical urban themes.
Artist & collection
Artist
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.
