Artwork
諸国六玉河 武蔵 調布の玉川|Musashi: Chōfu no Tamagawa
諸国六玉河 武蔵 調布の玉川|Musashi: Chōfu no Tamagawa is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Utagawa Hiroshige. It dates from 1833 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Overview
Musashi: Chōfu no Tamagawa is a woodblock print by Utagawa Hiroshige, created circa 1833, characterized by its serene depiction of a riverside scene in Musashi Province, Japan.
Subject & Meaning
The print captures a tranquil moment by the Tamagawa River, near Chōfu, with everyday figures engaged in quiet activities, emphasizing the beauty of natural and mundane scenes over urban spectacle.
Technique & Style
Hiroshige employed soft blues, greens, and earth tones to maintain a peaceful atmosphere, complemented by the subtle inclusion of Japanese text indicating the location, within a composition framed by tall trees, distant mountains, and a fenced house.
History & Provenance
Part of a larger series by Hiroshige, this work reflects his deviation from typical ukiyo-e themes of urban entertainment, instead focusing on broader, more serene landscapes, a hallmark of his Edo period output.
Context
Created during the Edo period, the print showcases Hiroshige's contribution to ukiyo-e by highlighting natural beauty and everyday life, contrasting with the more common depictions of city life and entertainment prevalent at the time.
Legacy
Musashi: Chōfu no Tamagawa contributes to Hiroshige's legacy as a pioneer in capturing the tranquility of Japanese landscapes, influencing the development of ukiyo-e and its appreciation for serene, natural scenes.
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.
