Who painted 江戸名所外桜田弁慶堀|Soto Sakurada Benkei Bori?

江戸名所外桜田弁慶堀|Soto Sakurada Benkei Bori was painted by Utagawa Hiroshige in 1843.

Where can I see 江戸名所外桜田弁慶堀|Soto Sakurada Benkei Bori?

江戸名所外桜田弁慶堀|Soto Sakurada Benkei Bori is held by Metropolitan Museum of Art.

What movement is 江戸名所外桜田弁慶堀|Soto Sakurada Benkei Bori?

江戸名所外桜田弁慶堀|Soto Sakurada Benkei Bori is associated with Romanticism.

Artwork

江戸名所外桜田弁慶堀|Soto Sakurada Benkei Bori

Utagawa Hiroshige , 1843

江戸名所外桜田弁慶堀|Soto Sakurada Benkei Bori is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Utagawa Hiroshige. It dates from 1843 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

About this work

Overview

Created circa 1843 by the ukiyo‑e master Utagawa Hiroshige, this woodblock print depicts a scene from Edo’s Sakurada district. Executed in ink and color on paper, the image is part of Hiroshige’s series that records notable locations around the city rather than the usual theater or pleasure‑quarter subjects. The work is presently in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Subject & Meaning

The composition presents a tranquil street beside a broad, verdant moat identified as the Benkei moat near Sakurada Gate. A low fence runs along the water’s edge, while pedestrians pause or stroll nearby. Across the water, tiled‑roofed buildings and wooden gates line the thoroughfare, framed by tall, dark trees. The sky is rendered in pink‑orange hues, suggesting evening light.

Technique & Style

Hiroshige employed the traditional multicolor woodblock process, carving separate blocks for each hue and printing them in succession. Fine ink lines define architectural details and the fence, while broad washes of color convey the water, sky, and foliage. The balanced perspective and subtle gradations of tone exemplify the artist’s mature landscape style.

History & Provenance

The print was produced during the late Edo period, a time when Hiroshige was actively documenting the city’s landmarks. It entered the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s collection through acquisition in the early 20th century, where it has been catalogued as a representative example of Hiroshige’s urban series.

Context

Unlike many ukiyo‑e works that focus on entertainment districts, this series highlights everyday urban scenery, reflecting a growing interest in the geography of Edo. The Benkei moat, originally a defensive feature of the city’s fortifications, is portrayed here as a peaceful, park‑like element within the urban fabric.

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.