The Kinuta Jewel River in Settsu Province (Settsu Kinuta no Tamagawa), from the series "Six Jewel Rivers in Various Provinces (Shokoku Mu Tamagawa)"
c. 1835/37
Medium
Color woodblock print; oban
Dimensions
25.7 × 37.9 cm (10 15/16 × 14 15/16 in.)
Classification
woodblock print
Department
Arts of Asia
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
89974
Art Historical Context
Utagawa Hiroshige1797–1858), a of the ukiyo-e woodblock print tradition, captures the serene beauty of Japan's landscapes in *The Kinuta Jewel River intsu Province* (c. 1835/37). This color woodblock print is part of his series *Six Jewel Rivers in Various*, which celebrates six famed rivers known as "Tamagawa" (Jewel Rivers) for their crystalline waters and poetic allure. Produced during Japan's Edo period, these affordable prints brought nature's splendor to urban audiences, blending realism with evocative mood. Printed in the large oban format (25.7 × 37.9 cm), the work showcases Hiroshige...
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...