Where can I see 六十余州名所図会壱岐志作|Winter View of Shimasaku in the Province of Iki?

六十余州名所図会壱岐志作|Winter View of Shimasaku in the Province of Iki is held by Metropolitan Museum of Art.

What movement is 六十余州名所図会壱岐志作|Winter View of Shimasaku in the Province of Iki?

六十余州名所図会壱岐志作|Winter View of Shimasaku in the Province of Iki is associated with Impressionism.

Artwork

六十余州名所図会壱岐志作|Winter View of Shimasaku in the Province of Iki

六十余州名所図会壱岐志作|Winter View of Shimasaku in the Province of Iki is an ink print by the Impressionist artist Utagawa Hiroshige. It dates from 1856 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

About this work

Overview

Created in 1856, this woodblock print by Utagawa Hiroshige forms part of his expansive series documenting the provinces of Japan. The image portrays a nocturnal winter scene on the island of Iki, rendered with ink and color on paper. It is presently held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Subject & Meaning

The composition captures a quiet coastal landscape under a night sky, with dark blue waters lapping a rocky shore and snow covering surrounding hills and trees. A solitary pine tree rises on a small islet, while specks of light—interpreted as stars or falling snow—dot the heavens, suggesting a serene, contemplative atmosphere.

Technique & Style

Hiroshige employs the ukiyo-e woodblock process, combining bold black outlines with soft washes of blue, white, and muted green. Simple geometric forms define the shoreline and hills, while finer carving renders delicate details such as the pine’s foliage and the scattered points of light, balancing broad compositional clarity with intricate texture.

History & Provenance

The print was produced as the first volume of Hiroshige’s "Sixty‑odd Provinces of Japan" series, a project that surveyed regional scenery across the country. After its original circulation in the mid‑19th century, the work entered the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it remains accessible to scholars and the public.

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.