Artwork
江戸名所 御茶之水|Ochanomizu
江戸名所 御茶之水|Ochanomizu is an ink print by Utagawa Hiroshige. It dates from 11 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Overview
Utagawa Hiroshige's *Ochanomizu* is a woodblock print from the Edo period, rendered in ink and color on paper. Characteristic of Hiroshige's later work, it documents a notable Edo location in a serene composition.
Subject & Meaning
The print captures a winter scene around Ochanomizu, depicting daily life with three women walking along a snowy path towards a bridge, contrasted with a distant man and a gliding boat, conveying a sense of peaceful coexistence.
Technique & Style
Hiroshige employs muted colors and delicate lines to evoke tranquility. Attention to detail is evident in the intricate kimonos patterns and snow texture, showcasing his mastery of ukiyo-e.
History & Provenance
Part of Hiroshige's series on Edo's notable locations, *Ochanomizu* reflects his deviation from typical ukiyo-e themes, instead focusing on landscapes and everyday life, akin to his famous series on Tōkaidō and Edo views.
Context
Created during the Edo period, this work sits within Hiroshige's broader oeuvre of landscape prints, distinguishing itself by its vertical composition and the capture of a specific, serene moment in time and place.
Legacy
As part of Hiroshige's later series, *Ochanomizu* contributes to his enduring legacy as a ukiyo-e artist who expanded the genre's thematic scope, influencing subsequent generations with his landscapes of everyday Edo life.
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.
