Artwork
東海道五十三次 島田 大井川|Shimada
東海道五十三次 島田 大井川|Shimada is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Utagawa Hiroshige. It dates from 1840 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Overview
Created circa 1840, this horizontal woodblock print by Utagawa Hiroshige forms part of his series *The Fifty‑three Stations of the Tōkaidō*. Executed in ink and color on paper, it depicts the post town of Shimada on the historic Tōkaidō road, illustrating a river landscape rather than the urban scenes more typical of ukiyo‑e.
Subject & Meaning
The composition centers on a bright‑blue river where figures swim, wade, and navigate small boats. Along the banks, modest huts and umbrellas provide shelter for anglers and resting travelers. A distant mountain rises behind a line of trees, framing the scene and emphasizing the tranquil, everyday rhythm of travel along the route.
Technique & Style
Hiroshige employs a flattened pictorial space, avoiding deep chiaroscuro in favor of clean outlines and vivid, flat colors. The sky is rendered in a pale wash with a subtle horizon glow, while the water’s surface reflects a uniform blue. This approach creates a calm atmosphere and highlights the rhythmic arrangement of figures and natural elements.
History & Provenance
The print was produced during the Edo period, when Hiroshige was a leading ukiyo‑e artist known for his travel landscapes. It was issued as part of the *Fifty‑three Stations* series, a popular set of prints that documented each stop along the Tōkaidō, catering to the growing interest in travel and regional scenery among urban audiences.
Context
In contrast to many contemporaneous ukiyo‑e works that focused on courtesans and city life, Hiroshige’s series foregrounded the countryside and the experience of movement. The Shimada view reflects this shift, presenting a serene river crossing that underscores the natural beauty encountered by travelers on the main highway linking Edo and Kyoto.
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.
