Who painted 京都名所之内淀川|Yodogawa?

京都名所之内淀川|Yodogawa was painted by Utagawa Hiroshige in 1834.

Where can I see 京都名所之内淀川|Yodogawa?

京都名所之内淀川|Yodogawa is held by Metropolitan Museum of Art.

What movement is 京都名所之内淀川|Yodogawa?

京都名所之内淀川|Yodogawa is associated with Romanticism.

Artwork

京都名所之内淀川|Yodogawa

Utagawa Hiroshige , 1834

京都名所之内淀川|Yodogawa 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

Created circa 1834 by Utagawa Hiroshige, this woodblock print depicts a tranquil stretch of the Yodo River near Kyoto.

Created circa 1834 by Utagawa Hiroshige, this woodblock print depicts a tranquil stretch of the Yodo River near Kyoto. Executed in ink and color on paper, the image forms part of Hiroshige’s series of famous Kyoto landscapes, which highlight the region’s natural scenery rather than the urban entertainment scenes typical of earlier ukiyo‑e works. The print is presently housed in the collection of The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Subject & Meaning

The composition centers on a long, low‑draft boat crowded with passengers. A man at the prow holds a pole, steering the vessel, while others sit, converse, or tend a small fire for cooking. A secondary, smaller boat drifts nearby. Above, a dark blue sky is punctuated by a luminous moon and thin clouds, their reflections shimmering on the calm water, suggesting a moment of quiet communal travel.

Technique & Style

Hiroshige employs the ukiyo‑e woodblock process, using bold, flat areas of color and simplified geometric forms to convey depth. The print’s chiaroscuro is achieved through subtle cross‑hatching, creating gentle shadows on the figures and water surface. The bright moon and its reflected glow are rendered with delicate line work, emphasizing the serene atmosphere without excessive detail.

History & Provenance

The work was produced during the late Edo period, a time when Hiroshige’s travel and landscape prints gained widespread popularity. After its creation, the print circulated among collectors of ukiyo‑e imagery before entering the holdings of The Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it remains accessible for study and public viewing.

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.