Artwork

Mokuboji Yukimi (Uekiya)|江戸高名会亭尽 木母寺雪見 植木屋|Uekiya Restaurant at Mokuboji

Mokuboji Yukimi (Uekiya)|江戸高名会亭尽 木母寺雪見 植木屋|Uekiya Restaurant at Mokuboji, by Utagawa Hiroshige, ink, 1838
Mokuboji Yukimi (Uekiya)|江戸高名会亭尽 木母寺雪見 植木屋|Uekiya Restaurant at Mokuboji, by Utagawa Hiroshige, ink, 1838

Mokuboji Yukimi (Uekiya)|江戸高名会亭尽 木母寺雪見 植木屋|Uekiya Restaurant at Mokuboji is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Utagawa Hiroshige. It dates from 1838 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

About this work

Overview

Utagawa Hiroshige's *Mokuboji Yukimi (Uekiya)*, circa 1838, is a woodblock print depicting a serene winter scene at the Uekiya restaurant, located at Mokuboji temple in Edo.

Subject & Meaning

The print captures a tranquil moment of everyday life, showing individuals in traditional attire gathered near a boat, set against the backdrop of the temple's architecture and a snowfall. This composition reflects Hiroshige's interest in exploring Edo's lesser-depicted aspects of life and architecture.

Technique & Style

Executed in ink and color on paper, the print features Hiroshige's characteristic use of bold lines, geometric shapes, and a muted palette of blues, grays, and browns, conveying a sense of calmness and structural order.

History & Provenance

Part of Hiroshige's broader oeuvre focusing on Edo-period life, the exact provenance of *Mokuboji Yukimi (Uekiya)* is not detailed here, though it aligns with his deviation from typical ukiyo-e subjects, instead emphasizing landscape and daily life.

Context

Created during the Edo period, this work stands out for its departure from the usual ukiyo-e themes of urban entertainment, instead offering a peaceful, natural scene intertwined with architectural elements.

Legacy

While not explicitly linked to Western art movements here, the print's emphasis on emotional resonance and natural beauty might draw comparisons to aspects of the Romanticism movement, though it remains rooted in traditional Japanese ukiyo-e techniques.

Artist & collection

Portrait of Utagawa Hiroshige

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.