Artwork
Toto meisho Sumidagawa zenzu settchukei|東都名所 隅田川全図雪中景|Celebrated Places in the Eastern Capital: Panoramic View of the Sumida River in Snow
Toto meisho Sumidagawa zenzu settchukei|東都名所 隅田川全図雪中景|Celebrated Places in the Eastern Capital: Panoramic View of the Sumida River in Snow is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Utagawa Hiroshige. It dates from 1840 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. This triptych woodblock print, created around 1840, depicts a snowy landscape along the Sumida River in Edo (modern-day Tokyo).
About this work
Overview
This triptych woodblock print, created around 1840, depicts a snowy landscape along the Sumida River in Edo (modern-day Tokyo). It is a representative work by Utagawa Hiroshige, a prominent ukiyo-e artist known for his landscapes.
Subject & Meaning
The print shows a serene cityscape with the Sumida River winding through it, flanked by bare trees and dotted with small buildings and figures. The scene conveys a sense of tranquility and captures the beauty of a snow-covered urban environment.
Technique & Style
Hiroshige's use of fine lines and subtle coloration creates texture and depth in the snow and trees. The composition is divided into three panels, showcasing his skill in balancing elements across multiple sheets.
Context
This work is characteristic of Hiroshige's landscape-focused style, which diverged from the typical ukiyo-e emphasis on urban pleasure districts. It is part of a body of work that includes series like *The Fifty-three Stations of the Tōkaidō* and *One Hundred Famous Views of Edo*.
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.
