名所江戸百景　王子装束ゑの木大晦日の狐火|New Year's Eve Foxfires at the Changing Tree, Ōji

Art Historical Context

Utagawa Hiroshige1797–1858), one of Japan's greatest ukiyo-e masters, a magical moment in his woodblock print *New Year's Eve Foxfires the Changing Tree, ji* (ca. 1857), from the renowned series *One Hundred Famous of Edo*. This vibrant work depicts a snowy winter night in the Ōji neighborhood of Edomodern Tokyo) during the Edo period (5–1868). At center is the legendary "Changing Tree," an ancient enoki associated with shape-shifting foxes—mythical creatures in Japanese folklore known for their foxfires, ethereal blue flames that dance like will-o'-the-wisps, symbolizing supernatural mischief on New Year's Eve. Hiroshige's genius shines in his innovative use of color and composition. Printed with ink and color on paper, the piece employs subtle gradations of indigo and crimson to evoke a chilly, moonlit atmosphere, with foxfires glowing against the falling snow. This technique, refined through collaborative woodblock printing, allowed mass production of affordable art that brought urban landscapes and folklore to everyday viewers. As plate 118 in Hiroshige's final masterpiece series, it blends natural beauty, seasonal ritual, and the uncanny, offering a window into Edo's cultural tapestry. Today, housed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, it reminds us of Japan's enduring fascination with the interplay of reality and myth.

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...