Actual View of Kata Bay, Kishu Province (Kishu kata no ura shinkei), from the series “One Hundred Famous Views in the Various Provinces (Shokoku meisho hyakkei)”
Medium
Color woodblock print
Classification
woodblock print
Department
Arts of Asia
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
196826
Rights
Public Domain
Art Historical Context
Welcome to the Arts of Asia gallery, where we spotlight the serene beauty of 19th-century Japan through *Actual View of Kata Bay,u Province (Kishu no ura shinkei)*, a color woodblock print from 1859 by Utagawa Hiroshige II (Shigenobu). This captivating work is part of the series *One Hundred Famous Views in Various Provinces (Shokoku meisho hyakkei)*, which celebrates Japan's diverse landscapes much like his mentor Hiroshige I's *One Hundred Famous Views of Edo*. Hiroshige II, a skilled ukiyo-e artist from the Utagawa school, masterfully continued this tradition of landscape prints, blending poetic realism with vivid seasonal details. Printed using the intricate woodblock technique—where separate blocks were carved for each color and meticulously aligned—this affordable medium made art accessible to everyday people during Japan's late Edo period. The title's "actual view" emphasizes a faithful rendering of Kata Bay's dramatic coastline in Kishu Province (modern-day Wakayama), evoking the tranquility of coastal life amid towering cliffs and gentle waves. Culturally, these prints fueled a national fascination with provincial travel spots just before Japan's Meiji-era transformation. Hiroshige II's subtle use of color gradients and atmospheric perspective invites viewers to pause and immerse in nature's quiet drama, a timeless reminder of ukiyo-e's enduring legacy in capturing fleeting beauty. (198 words)
About the Artist
Utagawa Hiroshige II (Shigenobu) · 1826–1869
Utagawa Hiroshige II, born Suzuki Chinpei in 1826, was one of the most accomplished ukiyo-e artists of mid-nineteenth century Japan. He entered the studio of the celebrated landscape master Utagawa Hiroshige I — known for his iconic series "The Fifty-three Stations of the Tokaido" — and proved himself the most talented of the elder artist's few students. So highly regarded was the young pupil that...