What movement is Masaki, boshun no kei|東都名所真崎暮春之景|A View of Late Spring at Masaki?

Masaki, boshun no kei|東都名所真崎暮春之景|A View of Late Spring at Masaki is associated with Romanticism.

Artwork

Masaki, boshun no kei|東都名所真崎暮春之景|A View of Late Spring at Masaki

Masaki, boshun no kei|東都名所真崎暮春之景|A View of Late Spring at Masaki is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Utagawa Hiroshige. It dates from 1831 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

About this work

Overview

This woodblock print, 'A View of Late Spring at Masaki', is a serene depiction of a lakeside scene created by Utagawa Hiroshige in 1831. It showcases the artist's skill in capturing the tranquility of urban and natural environments.

Subject & Meaning

The print features a wooden boat on a calm lake, with three people on board, set against a backdrop of trees, a small shrine, and distant mountains. The scene is characteristic of Hiroshige's focus on notable places in Edo-period Japan, highlighting the beauty of everyday landscapes.

Technique & Style

Hiroshige employed flat colors and simple shapes to convey a sense of peacefulness. The varying hats worn by the boat's passengers add a touch of narrative detail, distinguishing between different figures.

History & Provenance

Created in 1831, this print is part of Hiroshige's oeuvre that explored cityscape imagery, diverging from traditional ukiyo-e subjects. It is representative of his landscape series, which include 'The Fifty-three Stations of the Tōkaidō' and 'One Hundred Famous Views of Edo'.

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.