Artwork

本朝名所 相州七里ヶ浜|Seven-ri Beach, Province of Soshu

本朝名所 相州七里ヶ浜|Seven-ri Beach, Province of Soshu, by Utagawa Hiroshige, ink, 1828
本朝名所 相州七里ヶ浜|Seven-ri Beach, Province of Soshu, by Utagawa Hiroshige, ink, 1828

本朝名所 相州七里ヶ浜|Seven-ri Beach, Province of Soshu is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Utagawa Hiroshige. It dates from 1828 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

About this work

Overview

Seven-ri Beach, Province of Soshu is a woodblock print created by Utagawa Hiroshige in 1828. It is a landscape print that showcases the artist's exploration of scenic views beyond the typical urban subjects of the ukiyo-e genre.

Subject & Meaning

The print depicts a serene coastal scene with figures in the foreground, a large wave in the background, and a mountain range on the horizon. The tranquil atmosphere evokes a sense of peacefulness, capturing the natural beauty of the Soshu province's coastline.

Technique & Style

Rendered in ink and color on paper, the print is characteristic of the ukiyo-e tradition, which flourished during Japan's Edo period. The warm orange hue of the sky gradating to a lighter shade towards the top demonstrates Hiroshige's skillful use of color and composition.

History & Provenance

The print is part of The Metropolitan Museum of Art's collection. Created in 1828, it reflects Hiroshige's contribution to the ukiyo-e genre, which was popular during the Edo period.

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.