Artwork

江戸高名会亭尽 柳島の図 橋本|Yanagishima no Zu

江戸高名会亭尽 柳島の図 橋本|Yanagishima no Zu, by Utagawa Hiroshige, ink, 1838
江戸高名会亭尽 柳島の図 橋本|Yanagishima no Zu, by Utagawa Hiroshige, ink, 1838

江戸高名会亭尽 柳島の図 橋本|Yanagishima no Zu is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Utagawa Hiroshige. It dates from 1838 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

About this work

Overview

Utagawa Hiroshige's *Yanagishima no Zu*, created circa 1838, is a woodblock print on paper, executed in ink and color. Characteristic of Hiroshige's ukiyo-e landscapes, it diverges from the genre's typical urban entertainment themes, instead capturing a serene Edo locale.

Subject & Meaning

The print portrays three individuals in vibrant, patterned attire by a pond, conveying a sense of everyday life in Edo. The scene's tranquility, despite the subjects' gentle interactions, highlights Hiroshige's ability to balance liveliness with calm.

Technique & Style

Hiroshige employed bold, vibrant colors and crisp lines to define the composition, which includes a deep blue pond, a bridge, trees, and curved-roof buildings. A Japanese sign in the top-right corner adds contextual detail.

History & Provenance

*Yanagishima no Zu* is part of The Metropolitan Museum of Art's collection, reflecting its significance within Hiroshige's oeuvre and the broader ukiyo-e tradition.

Artist & collection

Portrait of Utagawa Hiroshige

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.