Yokohama Gankirō age|横浜岩亀楼上|Upper Floor of the Gankirō Tea House in Yokohama

Art Historical Context

Step onto the upper floor of Yokohama's Gankirō Tea House through Utagawa Hiroshige's vibrant triptych woodblock from the 4th month of 1860. A master of the Utagawa school and pupil of the legendary Hiroshige I, this captures the bustling intimacy of an Edo-period interior, where men and women gather in a space alive with conversation and leisure. Rendered in ink and color on paper, of the three sheets measures 14¾ × 10 inches, seamlessly combining to form a panoramic view that draws viewers into the "floating world" of ukiyo-e. Created during the late Edo period (1615–1868), just a year after Yokohama's port opened to foreign trade following Commodore Perry's arrival, this print reflects Japan's dynamic transition. Tea houses like Gankirō were social hubs, offering respite amid rapid modernization, and Hiroshige II's keen eye for everyday life highlights the elegance of these gatherings—elegant kimonos, subtle gestures, and harmonious compositions that evoke the era's refined urban culture. The triptych format, a hallmark of ukiyo-e, allows for expansive storytelling, with delicate gradations of color (bokashi technique) adding depth and atmosphere to the wooden interiors. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Asian Art department, this bequest from William S. Lieberman preserves a snapshot of pre-Meiji Japan, inviting us to savor its cultural warmth and historical poise.

About the Artist

Utagawa Hiroshige II · 1826–1869

Utagawa Hiroshige II, born Suzuki Chinpei in 1826, was one of the most accomplished ukiyo-e artists of mid-nineteenth century Japan. He entered the studio of the celebrated landscape master Utagawa Hiroshige I — known for his iconic series "The Fifty-three Stations of the Tokaido" — and proved himself the most talented of the elder artist's few students. So highly regarded was the young pupil that...