Mukōjima (Daikokuya)|江戸高名会亭尽 向島 大七|The Daikokuya at Mukojima
ca. 1835–42
Medium
Woodblock print; ink and color on paper
Dimensions
H. 9 5/16 in. (23.7 cm); W. 14 3/16 in. (36 cm)
Classification
Prints
Culture & Period
Japan · Edo period (1615–1868)
Department
Asian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Rogers Fund, 1919
Accession Number
JP1161
Rights
Public Domain
Tags
Art Historical Context
Utagawa Hiroshige1797–1858), a master of ukiyo-e wood prints, captures the vibrant social life of Edo-period Japan in *The Daikokuya at Mukojima* (ca. 1835–42). This work belongs to his series *Edo kōmei kaiten zenzu* (Famous Teah of Edo), showcasing renowned pleasure spots where locals gathered for food, drink, and entertainment. Mukojima, a scenic district along the Sumida River, was famed for its gardens and cherry blossoms, making it a favored retreat from urban bustle during the Edo period (1615–1868). Hiroshige's ukiyo-e technique—vibrant inks layered on paper via intricate woodblocks—b...
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...