The Sumida River (Sumidagawa), from the series "View of Mount Fuji from Edo (Edo no Fuji)"
c. 1832
Medium
Color woodblock print; shikishiban, surimono
Dimensions
20 × 18 cm (7 7/8 × 7 1/8 in.)
Classification
woodblock print
Department
Arts of Asia
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
81027
Art Historical Context
**The Sumida River (Sumidagawa)**, from Totoya Hokkei's series *View of Mount Fuji from Edo (Edo no Fuji)* (c. 1832), captures a serene moment along one of Edo's (modern Tokyo's) vital waterways. Hokkei, a prominent ukiyo-e artist and pupil of the master Katsushika Hokusai, showcases Mount Fuji rising dramatically in the distance amid everyday river life—boats gliding, figures at work, and the hazy urban skyline. Created during Japan's Edo period (1603–1868), this print reflects the era's fascination with the "floating world" of fleeting pleasures, blending city bustle with nature's majesty. ...
About the Artist
Totoya Hokkei · 1780–1850
Totoya Hokkei (魚屋 北渓, 1780–1850), born Iwakubo Tatsuyuki in Edo (modern Tokyo), began his life as a humble fishmonger in the Yotsuya Samegahashi district, a trade reflected in his art name "Totoya," meaning fish shop. He transitioned to art through rigorous training, first studying under Kanō Yōsen'in Korenobu, head of the Kobikichō branch of the prestigious Kanō school, where he honed landscape p...