Who painted 近江八景石山秋月|The Autumn Moon on Ishiyama?

近江八景石山秋月|The Autumn Moon on Ishiyama was painted by Utagawa Hiroshige in 1857.

Where can I see 近江八景石山秋月|The Autumn Moon on Ishiyama?

近江八景石山秋月|The Autumn Moon on Ishiyama is held by Metropolitan Museum of Art.

What movement is 近江八景石山秋月|The Autumn Moon on Ishiyama?

近江八景石山秋月|The Autumn Moon on Ishiyama is associated with Impressionism.

Artwork

近江八景石山秋月|The Autumn Moon on Ishiyama

Utagawa Hiroshige , 1857

近江八景石山秋月|The Autumn Moon on Ishiyama is an ink print by the Impressionist artist Utagawa Hiroshige. It dates from 1857 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

About this work

Overview

Created in 1857, this woodblock print is part of Utagawa Hiroshige’s series *Eight Views of Ōmi*. It portrays a tranquil nocturnal landscape at Ishiyama, where a moonlit sky illuminates a cliff, a modest building, and a distant bridge over water. The composition balances natural elements with a subtle architectural presence, characteristic of Hiroshige’s later scenic works.

Subject & Meaning

The scene captures an autumn night on the banks of Lake Biwa, emphasizing the quietude of the countryside rather than the bustling urban life typical of many ukiyo‑e prints. The reflected moon, appearing as two luminous discs, underscores the interplay of light and water, inviting contemplation of nature’s fleeting beauty.

Technique & Style

Executed with ink and color on paper, the print employs bold, saturated hues—deep blues for the water, vivid reds for the roof, and soft yellows for the moonlight. Hiroshige’s use of flat color areas and delicate line work creates a clear visual contrast, while the subtle gradation of sky tones conveys atmospheric depth.

History & Provenance

The work belongs to Hiroshige’s mature period, when he increasingly focused on landscape motifs. It entered the collection of The Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it is catalogued as part of the museum’s Japanese prints holdings, reflecting the broader 19th‑century interest in Japanese art among Western collectors.

Context

*Eight Views of Ōmi* adapts a classical Chinese theme of eight celebrated vistas, reinterpreted for a Japanese audience. Hiroshige’s rendition of the Ishiyama moon scene aligns with the series’ aim to depict seasonal and atmospheric variations across the Ōmi province, contributing to the Edo‑period tradition of travel‑inspired imagery.

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.