Who painted 東都名所芝増上寺雪中ノ図|Zojoji Temple at Shiba in Snow?

東都名所芝増上寺雪中ノ図|Zojoji Temple at Shiba in Snow was painted by Utagawa Hiroshige in 1828.

Where can I see 東都名所芝増上寺雪中ノ図|Zojoji Temple at Shiba in Snow?

東都名所芝増上寺雪中ノ図|Zojoji Temple at Shiba in Snow is held by Metropolitan Museum of Art.

What movement is 東都名所芝増上寺雪中ノ図|Zojoji Temple at Shiba in Snow?

東都名所芝増上寺雪中ノ図|Zojoji Temple at Shiba in Snow is associated with Romanticism.

Artwork

東都名所芝増上寺雪中ノ図|Zojoji Temple at Shiba in Snow

Utagawa Hiroshige , 1828

東都名所芝増上寺雪中ノ図|Zojoji Temple at Shiba in Snow is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Utagawa Hiroshige. It dates from 1828 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

About this work

Overview

Utagawa Hiroshige’s woodblock print, created in 1828, captures a winter view of Zojoji Temple in the Shiba district of Edo, now Tokyo. The composition presents a snow‑laden landscape with the temple’s dark roof and light walls set against a muted sky, while figures traverse a path in the foreground, some sheltering themselves with umbrellas.

Subject & Meaning

The image portrays a quiet seasonal moment, emphasizing the temple’s architectural presence amid a snow‑covered environment. The sparse, leafless trees and the subdued activity of passersby convey a sense of calm and the contemplative atmosphere of winter in the city’s sacred space.

Technique & Style

Executed as a traditional ukiyo‑e woodblock print, Hiroshige employed ink and color on paper to render delicate tonal variations. The limited palette of grays, whites, and earthy browns, combined with fine line work, delineates the architectural forms and the soft texture of falling snow, reflecting the artist’s mastery of landscape composition.

History & Provenance

Hiroshige, born Andō Tokutarō in 1797, was a leading figure of the late ukiyo‑e movement, which focused on everyday scenes and travel vistas. This print forms part of his broader series of landscape works that diverged from the genre’s usual depictions of urban entertainment, marking his contribution to the tradition shortly before its decline in the mid‑19th century.

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.