Artwork
東海道五十三次之内 日本橋 朝之景|Stations One: Morning View of Nihonbashi
東海道五十三次之内 日本橋 朝之景|Stations One: Morning View of Nihonbashi is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Utagawa Hiroshige. It dates from 1834 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Overview
This woodblock print, 'Stations One: Morning View of Nihonbashi', is part of Utagawa Hiroshige's 'The Fifty-three Stations of the Tōkaidō' series, created around 1834. It showcases Hiroshige's skill as a leading ukiyo-e artist, specializing in landscapes.
Subject & Meaning
The print depicts a bustling scene at Nihonbashi Bridge at dawn, with people in vibrant attire going about their daily activities. The bridge and surrounding buildings are rendered in detail, set against a soft pink sky.
Technique & Style
Hiroshige employed simple shapes and bright colors to convey depth, with buildings decreasing in size as they recede into the distance. The composition effectively captures the activity on the bridge and the calm water below.
Context
As a landscape print, this work diverges from the typical ukiyo-e focus on urban entertainment, instead highlighting a significant location along the Tōkaidō route.
Artist & collection
Artist
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.
