2, Scenery Depicted in the Late Edo Period

Utagawa Hiroshige became the leading ukiyo-e artist with the hit of his “Fifty-three Stations of Tōkaidō Road”(Hoeidō version), remaining as the leading ukiyo-e artist until his death at the age of 62 in 1858. He spent his last 3 years working on the series “One Hundred Famous Views of Edo”. He was the first artist too depict one hundred sceneries of the Edo city. His drive for creating ukiyo-e artwork certainly did not wane with his age. The series deserves to be called the masterpiece of Hiroshige’s later artistic career, containing many of his representative and famous works.

Ukiyo-e master Utagawa Hiroshige’s series titled “One Hundred Famous Views of Edo” depicts Edo in four seasons with original compositions and vivid colors. It is perhaps the best known series among ukiyo-e works and even influenced the impressionist western painter Vincent Van Gogh. Executed during the later times of Hiroshige’s artisitic career, the series contains many individual masterpieces such as “Plum Garden at Kameido” and “Evening Shower at Ōhashi Bridge and Atake”. The series gained popularity soon after its publication, and eventually more than one hundred different prints were produced by Hiroshige’s own hands despite the title “One Hundred Famous Views of Edo”. In this exhibition, we present all prints contained in the museum’s collection in two different terms in April and May. Please enjoy the changing Edo sceneries in the four seasons that continues to fascinate people from all countries.

●“One Hundred Famous Views of Edo: Plum Garden at Kameido”

The plum tree is depicted largely in the foreground and people are depicted smaller in the distant. Hiroshige mastered such extreme perspective technique.

●“One Hundred Famous Views of Edo: The Komagatadō Temple and Azuma Bridge”

Atenashi bokashi is a technique for producing gradated tones (shading) on woodblock prints. The technique was applied to depict the rain clouds in this picture. The Komagatadō Temple and little cuckoo was a famous combination popularized by a poem read by a courtesan.

Artists of Ukiiyo-e wood block prints have tried various creative methods of carving and printing. For example, “karazuri (gauffrage)” is a technique for embossing paper with a carved block without using any ink. “One Hundred Famous Views of Edo” used lavish techniques generously that takes many times. The many unique techniques applied brings add a luxurious feeling to the series. The series part that is part of our museum collection is known to be in excellent condition and is also regarded as one of the earlier editions of the series, strongly reflecting ukiyo-e artist Utagawa Hiroshige’s intentions. Please enjoy the charm of ukiyo-e wood block prints.

Through the various prints depicting pastoral country sides and lively festivals, the series allows us to commemorate the good old days of Edo. However, considering that Matthew Perry’s black ships had arrived at Uraga three years before the publication and the Ansei Great Earthquakes had occurred the year before, we must realize that the series was published in a time of instability and uncertainty caused by foreign pressures and natural disasters. Ten years after Hiroshige’s death, the gengo (the Japanese era name) changes from Edo to Meiji after the turbulent late Edo Period. Indeed, the series “One Hundred Famous Views of Edo” managed to successfully cut out and preserve the peaceful, old days of Edo just before the city experienced a dramatic westernization both in appearance and culture. Some scenes are completely lost, whereas others can still be seen in Tokyo. For the audience of today, the series as a whole reflects as a telling story of a city that experienced rapid modernization.

●“One Hundred Famous Views of Edo: Massaki and the Suijin Grove by the Sumida River ”
Cherry blossoms in full bloom are seen in the foreground. The Sumida River and Mt.Tsukuba are seen in the distant.

●“One Hundred Famous Views of Edo: Mannen Bridge at Fukagawa”

Mt. Fuji is seen over the tortoise hung from the pail. The composition of this picture is quite interesting.

●“One Hundred Famous Views of Edo: Kyobashi Bridge and the Bank of Takegashi ”

Kyobashi Bridge under the moon is seen from the direction of Ginza.

●“One Hundred Famous Views of Edo:Suruga-chō”

The view of Mt.Fuji from Suruga-chō was regarded as the most beautiful in the Edo city. On both side of the street, Mitsui store is seen.

●“One Hundred Famous Views of Edo: Evening Shower at Ōhashi Bridge and Atake”

People are hurrying over the bridge in the sudden shower. This work was Vincent Van Gogh’s favorite work.