東海道五十三次 見附|Mitsuki
ca. 1838
Medium
Woodblock print; ink and color on paper
Dimensions
8 1/2 x 6 1/2 in. (21.6 x 16.5 cm)
Classification
Prints
Culture & Period
Japan · Edo period (1615–1868)
Department
Asian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Rogers Fund, 1914
Accession Number
JP89
Tags
Art Historical Context
Utagawa Hiroshige *Mitsuke* (ca. 1838) is a captivating woodblock print from his renowned series *The Fifty-three of the Tōkaidō*. This iconic set of 53 prints (plus two extras) illustrates the post stations along the vital Tōkaidō road connecting Edo (modern Tokyo) to Kyoto during Japan's Edo period (1615–1868). Travel along this route was a highlight for merchants, pilgrims, and officials, and Hiroshige masterfully captured its scenic beauty and bustling life, making the series a bestseller that brought landscape art to everyday viewers. Rendered in vibrant ink and color on paper (8 1/2 x 6...
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...