Artwork
東海道五十三次之内 戸塚 元町別道|Totsuka; Moto Machi Betsudo
東海道五十三次之内 戸塚 元町別道|Totsuka; Moto Machi Betsudo 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
Totsuka; Moto Machi Betsudo is a woodblock print created by Utagawa Hiroshige around 1834 as part of his series The Fifty-three Stations of the Tōkaidō.
Subject & Meaning
The print depicts a bustling street scene with travelers, horses, and buildings, set against a backdrop of a river, hills, and thatched-roof houses under a cloudy sky. The scene captures daily life in a Japanese town during the 1800s.
Technique & Style
Hiroshige's work is characterized by attention to detail, such as the text on signs and the depiction of movement in the horses' legs, showcasing his skill in landscape ukiyo-e prints.
History & Provenance
The print is part of The Metropolitan Museum of Art's collection, exemplifying Hiroshige's focus on landscapes, which distinguished him from his contemporaries who often focused on urban entertainment.
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.
