Artwork

東海道五十三次鞠子|Mariko, from the series Tokaidō (popularly known as the Reisho Tokaidō)

東海道五十三次鞠子|Mariko, from the series Tokaidō (popularly known as the Reisho Tokaidō) 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, Mariko, from the series Tokaidō, was created by Utagawa Hiroshige around 1840. It is part of a series depicting the fifty-three stations along the historic Tōkaidō road.

Subject & Meaning

The print depicts a serene snowy village scene at night, with houses and bare trees under a starry sky. A red banner with Japanese writing is visible on the right, possibly indicating the location.

Technique & Style

Hiroshige employed simple lines and soft colors to convey a sense of calm. The use of ink and color on paper captures the falling snow and the quiet atmosphere of the village.

Context

As a leading ukiyo-e artist of the late Edo period, Hiroshige focused on landscapes and scenes outside the traditional subjects of urban entertainment, expanding the genre's scope.

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.