Pocket watch

Art Historical Context

In the early 19th century, Utagawa Hiroshige, a master of ukiyo-e woodblock printing, created this charming *Pocket Watch* around 1823, during the final decades of Japan's Edo period. At just 20.8 × 18.8 cm, this intimate shikishiban-format print captures a rare glimpse of Western influence trickling into isolated Japan via Dutch traders. Pocket watches, exotic novelties symbolizing global curiosity, appear here as a focal point, blending Japanese artistry with foreign allure in Hiroshige's signature detailed, evocative style. Printed as a luxurious *surimono*—a privately commissioned print often produced for New Year's greetings or elite patrons—this color woodblock exemplifies the medium's technical brilliance. Artisans meticulously carved multiple blocks for vibrant hues, subtle gradients (*bokashi*), and possible embellishments like mica or embossing, elevating it beyond mass-produced *ukiyo-e*. Such prints were treasured keepsakes, showcasing the era's refined craftsmanship amid strict sumptuary laws. Hiroshige, later famed for poetic landscapes like *The Fifty-three Stations of the Tōkaidō*, honed his skills in these early works on everyday wonders. Displayed in the Art Institute of Chicago's Arts of Asia collection, *Pocket Watch* invites us to ponder cultural crossroads, where a simple timepiece bridges worlds.

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...