Kintai Bridge at Iwakuni, Suo (Boshu) Province from the series “One Hundred Famous Views of the Various Provinces”

About this artwork

This print is the most celebrated design from Hiroshige II’s own large landscape series of 1859, One Hundred Famous Views of the Various Provinces. Hiroshige II likely created the series in response to the overwhelming popularity of Utagawa Hiroshige’s series One Hundred Famous Views of Edo. The composition echoes Hiroshige’s style, but the limited color palette, which brings out the intense blue gradation of the water, distinguishes it.

Art Historical Context

Behold the graceful arches of the Kintai Bridge at Iwakuni in Suo (Bōshū) Province, captured in this stunning 1859 color woodblock print by Utagawa Hiroshige II (Shigenobu). Part of the series *One Hundred Famous Views of the Various Provinces*, it continues the legacy of his master, Utagawa Hiroshige I, whose poetic landscapes defined ukiyo-e art. Produced during Japan's late Edo period, amid growing fascination with the nation's natural wonders, this print celebrates the bridge's iconic five-arched wooden structure spanning the Nishiki River—a marvel of 17th-century engineering rebuilt multiple times to withstand floods. Hiroshige II masterfully employs ukiyo-e techniques, layering vibrant colors from multiple carved woodblocks to evoke the misty atmosphere and seasonal beauty of the scene. Cherries in bloom frame the composition, drawing the eye across the rippling waters to distant hills, blending realism with poetic evocation. At 34.8 × 22.9 cm, its intimate scale belies its expansive vision, inviting viewers to traverse Japan's provinces vicariously. Housed in the Art Institute of Chicago's Arts of Asia collection, this work highlights ukiyo-e's cultural role in preserving scenic treasures amid rapid modernization. It reminds us of Hiroshige II's skill in sustaining a beloved tradition, offering timeless serenity to museum-goers today.

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...