View of Konodai and the Tone River (Konodai Tonegawa fukei), from the series "One Hundred Famous Views of Edo (Meisho Edo hyakkei)"
Medium
Color woodblock print; oban
Dimensions
36.4 × 25.5 cm (14 5/16 × 10 in.)
Classification
woodblock print
Department
Arts of Asia
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
34141
Art Historical Context
Utagawa Hiroshige (1797–1858), a master of ukiyo-e woodblock prints, captures the serene beauty of Edo (modern-day Tokyo) in his monumental series *One Hundred Famous of Edo (Meisho Edo hyakkei)*. Produced between 1856 and 1859, this collection of 118 prints—exceeding its titular number—showcases Hiroshige's genius for landscape depiction. *View of Konodai the Tone River (Konai Tonegawa fuke)*, from 1856, highlights a picturesque riverside vista near the city, rendered in the large oban format (36.4 × 25.5 cm) ideal for dramatic impact. Hiroshige's technique shines through vibrant colors laye...
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...