名所江戸百景　王子装束ゑの木大晦日の狐火|Shozokuenoki Tree at Oji: Fox–fires on New Years Eve

Art Historical Context

In Utagawa Hiroshige enchanting woodblock print *Shozokuenoki at Oji: Fox–fires on New Year's Eve* (1857), part of his renowned series *One Hundred Famous of Edo*, we witness a mystical nocturnal scene at the Oji shrine district in Edo (modern Tokyo). Towering against a starry sky, the ancient Shozokuenoki glows amid ethereal fox fires—kitsunebi—legendary flames associated with shape-shifting foxes in Japanese folklore. These spectral lights, said to appear on New Year's Eve, draw pilgrims seeking blessings from fox spirits linked to the Shinto deity Inari. Hiroshige, a master of the ukiyo-e ("pictures of the floating world") tradition during Japan's Edo period (1615–1868), captures the moment with his signature atmospheric depth. Using vibrant inks layered through intricate woodblock carving, he evokes a sense of wonder and transience, blending everyday urban life with supernatural allure. The print's intimate format (14 1/16 x 9 1/2 in.) made it accessible to a wide audience via affordable multiples. This work, now in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Asian Art collection, highlights Edo's vibrant print culture and enduring fox lore, offering visitors a portal to 19th-century Japan's harmonious fusion of nature, myth, and cityscape.

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...