Who painted 東都名所佃島初郭公|Tsukudajima Hatsu Hototogisu?

東都名所佃島初郭公|Tsukudajima Hatsu Hototogisu was painted by Utagawa Hiroshige in 1830.

Where can I see 東都名所佃島初郭公|Tsukudajima Hatsu Hototogisu?

東都名所佃島初郭公|Tsukudajima Hatsu Hototogisu is held by Metropolitan Museum of Art.

What movement is 東都名所佃島初郭公|Tsukudajima Hatsu Hototogisu?

東都名所佃島初郭公|Tsukudajima Hatsu Hototogisu is associated with Romanticism.

Artwork

東都名所佃島初郭公|Tsukudajima Hatsu Hototogisu

Utagawa Hiroshige , 1830

東都名所佃島初郭公|Tsukudajima Hatsu Hototogisu is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Utagawa Hiroshige. It dates from 1830 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

About this work

Overview

Tsukudajima Hatsu Hototogisu is a woodblock print created by Utagawa Hiroshige around 1830, during the late Edo period. Characteristic of his landscape-oriented approach within the ukiyo-e tradition, this work captures a serene scene of Tsukudajima, a small island in Edo Bay.

Subject & Meaning

The print depicts a peaceful dusk scene at Tsukudajima's waterfront. Prominent elements include tall wooden poles supporting boats with curved, straw-roofed canopies, distant shoreline buildings, and a calm blue water surface dotted with small boats. A single bird flies near the moon under a soft, pink-and-gray clouded sky.

Technique & Style

Hiroshige employed simple, clean lines to convey depth and water movement. Notably, the slightly leaning poles introduce a sense of rhythmic dynamism to the otherwise tranquil composition, highlighting his mastery of balance within the ukiyo-e aesthetic.

History & Provenance

Created circa 1830 by Utagawa Hiroshige, a renowned ukiyo-e artist known for deviating from typical genre subjects by focusing on landscapes and lesser-depicted locations like Tsukudajima.

Context

Part of the broader ukiyo-e movement, this print reflects Hiroshige's contribution to the evolution of Japanese woodblock printing, particularly in capturing everyday, natural scenes of late Edo period life.

Legacy

Tsukudajima Hatsu Hototogisu contributes to Hiroshige's legacy as a pioneer in landscape ukiyo-e, influencing subsequent generations of artists and remaining a quintessential example of his serene and detailed depictions of Japanese landscapes.

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.