Ochanomizu in the Eastern Capital (Toto Ochanomizu), from the series "Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji (Fuji sanjurokkei)"
Medium
Color woodblock print; oban
Classification
Department
Arts of Asia
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
59015
Rights
Public Domain
Art Historical Context
Utagawa Hiroshige, a master of ukiyo-e woodblock prints, created *Ochanomizu in the Eastern Capital (Tōto Ochanomizu)* in 1858 as part of his renowned series *Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji*. Though the series title suggests 36 prints, Hiroshige produced 46, each showcasing the majestic mountain from unexpected urban and rural vantage points around Japan. This oban-sized color woodblock print (roughly 10 x 14 inches) captures the Ochanomizu district in Edo (modern Tokyo), a bustling area known for its pure spring water and the dramatic stone bridge arching over the Kanda River, with Mount Fuji looming ethereally in the distance. Hiroshige's genius lies in his atmospheric style, blending precise lines with subtle gradations of color achieved through multiple woodblocks—a labor-intensive process involving carvers, printers, and publishers. Here, he masterfully conveys depth and mood: tiny figures crossing the bridge add human scale, while misty blues and greens evoke a serene yet vibrant cityscape, harmonizing nature's grandeur with everyday life. Produced in the late Edo period amid Japan's isolation before Western influence, this print exemplifies ukiyo-e's cultural role in democratizing art for the masses. Its export later inspired European Impressionists, cementing Hiroshige's global legacy. Visitors to the Art Institute of Chicago's Arts of Asia department can marvel at how it freezes a fleeting moment of beauty amid urban flux.
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...