Artwork

本朝名所 相州七里ヶ浜|Soshu, Shichi-ri ga Hama

本朝名所 相州七里ヶ浜|Soshu, Shichi-ri ga Hama, by Utagawa Hiroshige, ink, 1830
本朝名所 相州七里ヶ浜|Soshu, Shichi-ri ga Hama, by Utagawa Hiroshige, ink, 1830

本朝名所 相州七里ヶ浜|Soshu, Shichi-ri ga Hama is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Utagawa Hiroshige. It dates from 1830 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

About this work

Overview

Soshu, Shichi-ri ga Hama is a woodblock print created by Utagawa Hiroshige around 1830. It is a landscape-focused work that showcases the artist's skill in capturing natural scenery.

Subject & Meaning

The print depicts a coastal landscape in Sagami Province, featuring a rugged shoreline, distant waves, and a mountain range. A group of people are shown on the beach, with one person riding a horse, adding a sense of human presence to the natural scene.

Technique & Style

The print is characterized by its use of bold colors and expressive rendering, with shades of blue and white used for the wave and greens and browns for the mountains. The composition is horizontal, creating a sense of depth and atmosphere.

Context

Hiroshige's work diverges from traditional ukiyo-e by emphasizing scenic views over urban subjects, reflecting a shift in artistic focus during the late 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.