Toto Mitsumata no zu|Picture of Mitsumata

Art Historical Context

This woodblock print by Utagawa Kuniyoshi captures a lively scene along the rivers of Edo (modern-day Tokyo) at Mitsumata, a notable area known for its bridges and waterways during the Edo period (1615–1868). Created with ink and color on paper, the work measures just 10 by 14½ inches, yet it vividly conveys the bustle of boats navigating the currents beneath arched bridges, with dramatic elements of fire adding tension and energy to the composition. Woodblock printing was a central artistic medium in Japan at this time, allowing artists like Kuniyoshi to produce affordable, detailed images that reached a wide audience. Such prints often documented urban life, natural events, or seasonal views, blending observation with imaginative flair. The inclusion of fire and river traffic hints at the dynamic, sometimes hazardous character of Edo’s crowded waterfront districts. Now part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Asian Art collection through the Henry L. Phillips bequest, “Picture of Mitsumata” offers today’s viewers a window into 19th-century Japanese urban culture and the technical mastery of ukiyo-e printmaking.

About the Artist

Utagawa Kuniyoshi · 1797–1861

Utagawa Kuniyoshi (1797–1861) was born in Edo to the silk-dyer Yanagiya Kichiyemon, originally bearing the childhood name Yoshisaburō. From a young age, he assisted in his family's pattern design work, which sharpened his innate mastery of color and textile motifs that would permeate his later prints. At around twelve years old, his prodigious drawing skills drew the attention of the renowned Utag...