Yodo River (Yodogawa), from the series "Famous Places in Kyoto (Kyoto meisho no uchi)"
c. 1834
Medium
Color woodblock print; oban
Dimensions
24.5 × 35.7 cm (9 5/8 × 14 1/16 in.)
Classification
woodblock print
Department
Arts of Asia
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
13204
Art Historical Context
Utagawa Hiroshige1797–1858), a master of ukiyo-e—the "pictures of the floating world"—ures the serene beauty of Japan's landscapes in *Yodo River (Yodogawa)*, from his series *Famous Places in Kyoto (Kyoto meo no uchi)*, created around 1834. This color woodblock print, in the large oban format (24.5 × 35.7 cm), showcases Hiroshige's signature style: atmospheric perspectives, delicate color gradients, and poetic depictions of nature. The Yodo River, a vital waterway near Kyoto, likely appears in a tranquil seasonal scene, evoking the meisho-e tradition of immortalizing scenic views cherished by...
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...