Artwork

東京汐留鉄道蒸気車通行図|Illustration of a Steam Locomotive Passing Shiodome in Tokyo (Tōkyō Shiodome testudō jōkisha tsūkō zu)

東京汐留鉄道蒸気車通行図|Illustration of a Steam Locomotive Passing Shiodome in Tokyo (Tōkyō Shiodome testudō jōkisha tsūkō zu) is an ink print by the Impressionist artist Utagawa Kuniteru. It dates from 1872 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

About this work

Overview

Tōkyō Shiodome testudō jōkisha tsūkō zu is a triptych woodblock print created in 1872 by Utagawa Kuniteru, depicting a scene of modernity in Tokyo. The work is composed of ink and color on paper.

Subject & Meaning

The print illustrates a steam locomotive, brown with a red carriage, passing a prominent building in Shiodome, Tokyo, surrounded by onlookers. The juxtaposition of the locomotive with traditional elements (a large tree, people in possibly traditional attire) captures the dawn of Japan’s industrial era.

Technique & Style

Executed in a realistic style with meticulous detail, the print showcases vibrant colors, notably bright reds and blues. The artist employed cross-hatching to achieve nuanced shadows and textures, blending Western realism with traditional Japanese woodblock techniques.

History & Provenance

Created in 1872, the print is now part of The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s collection, highlighting its significance in documenting Japan’s Meiji Period modernization.

Context

Produced during the Meiji Period, this work reflects Japan’s rapid modernization and the introduction of Western technology, such as steam locomotives, into its urban landscape.

Legacy

As a document of transitional Japan, Tōkyō Shiodome testudō jōkisha tsūkō zu provides insight into the artistic response to modernity and the evolution of woodblock printing in the face of Western influences.