Who painted 東海道五十三次嶋田大井川|Shimada; Oigawa Shun-Gan, Banks of the Oi River?

東海道五十三次嶋田大井川|Shimada; Oigawa Shun-Gan, Banks of the Oi River was painted by Utagawa Hiroshige in 1838.

Where can I see 東海道五十三次嶋田大井川|Shimada; Oigawa Shun-Gan, Banks of the Oi River?

東海道五十三次嶋田大井川|Shimada; Oigawa Shun-Gan, Banks of the Oi River is held by Metropolitan Museum of Art.

What movement is 東海道五十三次嶋田大井川|Shimada; Oigawa Shun-Gan, Banks of the Oi River?

東海道五十三次嶋田大井川|Shimada; Oigawa Shun-Gan, Banks of the Oi River is associated with Romanticism.

Artwork

東海道五十三次嶋田大井川|Shimada; Oigawa Shun-Gan, Banks of the Oi River

Utagawa Hiroshige , 1838

東海道五十三次嶋田大井川|Shimada; Oigawa Shun-Gan, Banks of the Oi River 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

Created circa 1838, this woodblock print by Utagawa Hiroshige illustrates a lively stretch of the Oi River near Shimada. Part of his extensive series on the Tōkaidō road, the image captures a bustling riverside scene populated by swimmers, raft‑bearers, and pedestrians, all set against a soft pink sky and distant mountain silhouette.

Subject & Meaning

The composition emphasizes everyday activity along a travel corridor, highlighting the river as both a practical thoroughfare and a place of leisure. Figures are shown swimming, wading, and propelling small boats with long poles, suggesting the river’s role in commerce and recreation for travelers and locals alike.

Technique & Style

Executed with ink and multiple colors on paper, the print employs the characteristic ukiyo‑e approach of layered woodblocks. Hiroshige’s delicate line work defines rippling water and individual postures, while subtle gradations of pink and blue create atmospheric depth, balancing detailed human activity with a tranquil natural backdrop.

History & Provenance

The work belongs to Hiroshige’s celebrated series "The Fifty‑three Stations of the Tōkaidō," produced during the late Edo period when travel along the coastal highway was at its peak. The series was widely circulated in the 1830s and 1840s, influencing both Japanese and later Western perceptions of landscape printmaking.

Context

At a time when ukiyo‑e artists were shifting from urban pleasure districts to scenic subjects, Hiroshige’s focus on riverine vistas reflected broader cultural interest in travel and the natural world. The Oi River scene exemplifies this transition, offering a snapshot of mid‑nineteenth‑century mobility along one of Japan’s most important routes.

Artist & collection

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.