Sunset Glow at Koganei Bridge (Koganei-bashi sekisho), from the series "Eight Views in the Environs of Edo (Edo kinko hakkei no uchi)"
c. 1837/38
Medium
Color woodblock print; oban
Dimensions
22.9 × 35 cm (9 × 13 3/4 in.)
Classification
woodblock print
Department
Arts of Asia
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
25289
Art Historical Context
In the golden hues of a fading sun, Utagawa Hiroshige captures the tranquil beauty of *Sunset Glow at Koganei Bridge (Kanei-bashi sekish)*, from his series *Eight Views in Environs of EdoEdo kinko hakkei no uchi)*, created around 1837–38. Hiroshige, a master of the ukiyo-e ("pictures of the floating world") tradition, elevated landscape prints to poetic heights, drawing inspiration from classical Chinese motifs like the "Eight Views of Xiao-Xiang." This oban-sized color woodblock print (22.9 × 35 cm) depicts the Koganei Bridge spanning a serene river near Edo (modern Tokyo), bathed in warm sun...
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...