五十三次名所図会 草津|Kusatsu
Medium
Woodblock print; ink and color on paper
Dimensions
H. 14 1/2 in. (36.8 cm); W. 9 3/4 in. (24.8 cm)
Classification
Prints
Culture & Period
Japan · Edo period (1615–1868)
Department
Asian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Mrs. Henry J. Bernheim, 1945
Accession Number
JP1476
Tags
Art Historical Context
Utagawa Hiroshige (1797–1858), a master of Japanese ukiyo-e woodblock prints, created *Kusatsu* in 1855 as part of his series *The Famous Places of the Fifty-three Stations of the Tōkaidō*. This iconic route connected Edo (modern Tokyo) to Kyoto, serving as a vital highway during the Edo period (1615–1868). Hiroshige's works romanticized these post stations, capturing travelers' experiences amid stunning landscapes and blending everyday life with poetic beauty. In this print, the view of Kusatsu—station 52 near Lake Biwa—evokes serenity with towering mountains, shimmering waters, and boats gl...
About the Artist
Utagawa Hiroshige · 1826–1869
Utagawa Hiroshige (1797–1858), born Andō Tokutarō, was the last great master of Japanese ukiyo-e woodblock printmaking and one of the most influential landscape artists in history. Born in Edo (modern Tokyo) into a low-ranking samurai family serving as fire wardens, Hiroshige transformed landscape printmaking into a poetic meditation on nature, weather, and everyday life. His revolutionary approac...