東海道五十三次之内　四日市　三重川|Mie River at Yokkaichi

Art Historical Context

Utagawa Hiroshige *Mie River at Yokkaichi* (1834) is a captivating woodblock print from his series *The Fifty-three of the Tōkaidō*. This iconic Edo-period (1615–1868) project immortalized the 53 post stations along Japan's vital coastal highway connecting Edo (modern Tokyo) Kyoto. Travel along the Tōkaidō was restricted to commoners under the shogunate's policies, making Hiroshige's vivid depictions a window into popular culture and the romance of pilgrimage and commerce. The print captures the 16th station at Yokkaichi, where travelers navigate the gusty Mie River crossing via a sturdy bridge, surrounded by bending trees and figures bracing against the wind. Hiroshige's ukiyo-e mastery shines in his atmospheric effects—subtle gradients of color and dynamic lines evoke the river's flow and blustery weather. Printed collaboratively with skilled carvers and printers, these *nishiki-e* (brocade pictures) used multiple woodblocks for vibrant inks, making art accessible to everyday viewers. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Asian Art collection, this work exemplifies Hiroshige's influence on global art, inspiring Impressionists like Monet. It not only documents a bustling travel hub but celebrates Japan's natural beauty and human resilience during a time of isolationist prosperity.

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...