Artwork
Karasaki no Yau|近江八景の内 唐崎夜雨|Evening Rain at Karasaki, Pine Tree
Karasaki no Yau|近江八景の内 唐崎夜雨|Evening Rain at Karasaki, Pine Tree is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Utagawa Hiroshige. It dates from 1828 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Overview
Evening Rain at Karasaki, Pine Tree is a 1828 woodblock print by Utagawa Hiroshige, part of his Eight Views of Ōmi series. It features a serene landscape centered around a large tree, water, and distant buildings, rendered in muted blues, grays, and subtle color accents.
Subject & Meaning
The print captures a tranquil evening scene at Karasaki, emphasizing the harmony between nature (a prominent pine tree, water) and human presence (background buildings, foreground boats). The atmosphere conveys a sense of calm and serenity.
Technique & Style
Hiroshige's use of muted colors, gentle lines, and subtle textures (notably on the tree's branches and water) creates a soothing effect. This style aligns with his later work, as seen in One Hundred Famous Views of Edo, highlighting his ability to evoke atmosphere in vertical formats.
History & Provenance
Created in 1828, the print is now part of The Metropolitan Museum of Art's collection. It marks Hiroshige's shift towards landscapes, diverging from ukiyo-e's typical urban themes and solidifying his reputation as a leading landscape artist.
Context
While rooted in ukiyo-e traditions, the work's emphasis on natural beauty and emotion links it to broader artistic movements, such as Romanticism, which similarly valorizes the emotional resonance of the natural world.
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.
近江八景之内 唐崎夜雨|Evening Rain at Karasaki-Pine Tree
近江八景之内 唐崎夜雨|Evening Rain on the Karasaki Pine
歌川広重画 「近江八景之内 唐崎夜雨」|Night Rain at Karasaki, from the series Eight Views of Ōmi (Ōmi hakkei no uchi)
Night Rain at Karasaki, from Eight Views of Ōmi
歌川広重画 「あふみ八景 辛崎夜雨」|Evening Rain at Karasaki, from the series Eight Views of Ōmi (Ōmi hakkei)
Night Rain at the Azuma Shrine (from the series Eight Views of the Environs of Edo)
Karasaki ya'u|近江八景 唐崎夜雨|Pine Tree at Karasaki
近江八景之内 比良暮雪|Evening Snow on Mount Hira
東海道五十三次之内 大磯 虎ケ雨|Tiger Rain at Ōiso Station