Fukagawa Susaki and Jumantsubo (Fukagawa Susaki Jumantsubo), from the series "One Hundred Famous Views of Edo (Meisho Edo hyakkei)"

Art Historical Context

Utagawa Hiroshige's *Fukagawa Susaki and Jumantsubo* (7) is a captivating gem from his renowned series *One Hundred Famous of Edo (Meisho Edo hyakkei)*, which immortalizes the bustling landscapes of Edo—modern-day Tokyo—during Japan's Edo period. Produced in the final years of Hiroshige's life, this print captures a specific coastal district known for its lively waterways and everyday scenes, blending urban life with natural beauty in his signature poetic style. As a color woodblock print in the oban format (35.6 × 23.8 cm), it exemplifies ukiyo-e mastery, where intricate woodblocks were carved and layered with vibrant pigments to create atmospheric depth. Hiroshige's innovative use of perspective and subtle color gradients evokes mood and movement, distinguishing him from contemporaries like Hokusai. This technique made such prints affordable and popular, democratizing art for the masses. Housed in the Art Institute of Chicago's Arts of Asia collection, the work highlights Edo's cultural vibrancy on the eve of Japan's opening to the West. It invites viewers to ponder the fleeting beauty of urban life, a core theme of ukiyo-e, offering a window into 19th-century Japanese society through Hiroshige's masterful lens.

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...