Who painted 江戸高名会亭尽王子扇屋|The Ōgiya at Ōji?

江戸高名会亭尽王子扇屋|The Ōgiya at Ōji was painted by Utagawa Hiroshige in 1838.

Where can I see 江戸高名会亭尽王子扇屋|The Ōgiya at Ōji?

江戸高名会亭尽王子扇屋|The Ōgiya at Ōji is held by Metropolitan Museum of Art.

What movement is 江戸高名会亭尽王子扇屋|The Ōgiya at Ōji?

江戸高名会亭尽王子扇屋|The Ōgiya at Ōji is associated with Baroque.

Artwork

江戸高名会亭尽王子扇屋|The Ōgiya at Ōji

Utagawa Hiroshige , 1838

江戸高名会亭尽王子扇屋|The Ōgiya at Ōji is an ink print by the Baroque artist Utagawa Hiroshige. It dates from 1838 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

About this work

Overview

Executed with ink and color on paper, the image presents a tranquil riverside scene framed by trees and low buildings.

Created circa 1838 by Utagawa Hiroshige, this woodblock print records the Ōgiya establishment in the Ōji district. Executed with ink and color on paper, the image presents a tranquil riverside scene framed by trees and low buildings. A small group of figures, including two women—one bearing a bundle, another poised near the water—populate the composition, lending a sense of everyday activity to the landscape.

Subject & Meaning

The work captures a moment of quiet leisure at a local teahouse, emphasizing the interaction between people and their natural surroundings. The central stream, bordered by foliage, serves as a focal point for the figures, suggesting a communal gathering spot where travelers might pause to refresh themselves. The composition reflects Hiroshige’s interest in ordinary urban spaces rather than the more sensational nightlife often depicted in ukiyo‑e.

Technique & Style

Hiroshige employs the traditional ukiyo‑e woodblock process, layering ink outlines with multiple color washes. A restrained palette of blues, greens, and earthy browns creates atmospheric depth, while bold contour lines define architecture and foliage. Subtle gradations of tone give the water a reflective quality, and the careful placement of figures adds narrative movement without disrupting the overall calm.

History & Provenance

The print forms part of Hiroshige’s series documenting notable restaurants and teahouses of Edo, a project that blended travel guidebook sensibilities with artistic observation. After circulating in the 19th‑century market, the sheet entered the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it is currently held and displayed as an example of mid‑Edo period commercial illustration.

Context

During the late Edo period, the expansion of road networks and the rise of pleasure districts spurred demand for visual guides to popular venues. Hiroshige’s series responded to this trend, offering travelers visual references to well‑known establishments. The Ōgiya at Ōji illustrates how everyday locales were elevated to subjects of artistic record, bridging the worlds of commerce, travel, and visual culture.

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.