Who painted 四季江都名所冬隅田川之雪|Snow on the Sumida River?

四季江都名所冬隅田川之雪|Snow on the Sumida River was painted by Utagawa Hiroshige in 1835.

Where can I see 四季江都名所冬隅田川之雪|Snow on the Sumida River?

四季江都名所冬隅田川之雪|Snow on the Sumida River is held by Metropolitan Museum of Art.

What movement is 四季江都名所冬隅田川之雪|Snow on the Sumida River?

四季江都名所冬隅田川之雪|Snow on the Sumida River is associated with Romanticism.

Artwork

四季江都名所冬隅田川之雪|Snow on the Sumida River

Utagawa Hiroshige , 1835

四季江都名所冬隅田川之雪|Snow on the Sumida River 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

Created circa 1835, this woodblock print by Utagawa Hiroshige depicts a winter scene along the Sumida River in Edo. Executed with ink and color on paper, the image forms part of Hiroshige’s larger series that presents famous Japanese locales across the four seasons. The work is presently housed in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Subject & Meaning

The composition presents a nocturnal riverside blanketed in falling snow. A solitary traveler, shaded by a straw hat and holding an umbrella, walks beside a bamboo fence, while tall pine silhouettes rise in the background. The muted palette and quiet atmosphere convey the stillness of a winter night and the subtle interaction between human movement and the natural environment.

Technique & Style

Hiroshige employs the ukiyo‑e woodblock method, using fine, carved lines to render the texture of snow, bamboo, and pine needles. Ink outlines are combined with delicate color washes, creating a layered effect that suggests depth and atmospheric perspective. The restrained use of color and emphasis on line exemplify Hiroshige’s approach to landscape, focusing on mood rather than detailed realism.

History & Provenance

The print belongs to Hiroshige’s series of celebrated places, a project that expanded the traditional ukiyo‑e focus on urban entertainment to include scenic travel subjects. After its production in the early 1830s, the piece entered the Western art market and was eventually acquired by the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it remains on view as part of the museum’s Japanese prints collection.

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.