Artwork

東都名所新吉原日本堤衣紋坂曙|Shin Yoshiwara Nihon Tsutsumi Emonzaka Akatsuki

東都名所新吉原日本堤衣紋坂曙|Shin Yoshiwara Nihon Tsutsumi Emonzaka Akatsuki is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Utagawa Hiroshige. It dates from 1835 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

About this work

Overview

This woodblock print, created by Utagawa Hiroshige around 1835, is a representation of the Shin Yoshiwara pleasure quarter. The work is characteristic of Hiroshige's landscape ukiyo-e style, showcasing his ability to capture atmospheric scenes.

Subject & Meaning

The print depicts a riverside street scene at dusk, with people walking, working, or standing near wooden buildings. The composition includes a prominent pine tree and lanterns, set against a softly colored sky. The scene conveys a sense of daily life in the Shin Yoshiwara area.

Technique & Style

Hiroshige employed traditional ukiyo-e techniques, using ink and color on paper to achieve a detailed and atmospheric effect. The print showcases his skill in capturing textures and the play of light and shadow, creating a vivid representation of the scene.

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.