Pedestrians and Shops by the Harbor of Shinagawa
19th century
Medium
Color woodblock print; surimono
Dimensions
20.5 × 18.3 cm (8 1/8 × 7 1/4 in.)
Classification
woodblock print
Department
Arts of Asia
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
80990
Art Historical Context
Utagawa Hiroshige1797–1858), one of Japan's most celebrated ukiyo-e masters, captures the lively harbor scene of Shinagawa in exquisite 19th-century colorblock print. Titled *Pedestrians and Shops the Harbor of Shinagawa it exemplifies Hiroshige's signature style poetic depictions of everyday life, travel, and urban bustle during the Edo period (1603–1868). Shinagawa, a bustling post station on the Tōkaidō road leading from Edo (modern Tokyo) to Kyoto, was a vibrant hub of commerce and travelers, vividly brought to life here. This surimono—a luxurious, privately commissioned print often produ...
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...