Sado Province: Gold Mines (Sado, Kinzan), from the series "Famous Places in the Sixty-odd Provinces (Rokujuyoshu meisho zue)"
Medium
Color woodblock print; oban
Classification
woodblock print
Department
Arts of Asia
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
130561
Art Historical Context
Utagawa Hiroshige1797–1858), a master of ukiyo-e wood prints, captures the rugged beauty of Sado Province gold mines in this 1853 color woodblock print from his renowned series *Famous Places the Sixty-odd Provinces*Rokujuyoshu meisho zue*). Produced during Japan's Edo period, the series showcases scenic views from all 68 provinces, blending travelogue with artistic poetry. Here, Hiroshige depicts miners at work amid dramatic cliffs and misty seas, evoking the island's isolation and industry. Sado Island, off Japan's northwest coast, was a vital gold-producing hub from the 17th century, fueli...
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...