Artwork
諸國名橋奇覧 ゑちぜんふくゐの橋|Fukui Bridge in Echizen Province (Echizen Fukui no hashi), from the series Remarkable Views of Bridges in Various Provinces (Shokoku meikyō kiran)
諸國名橋奇覧 ゑちぜんふくゐの橋|Fukui Bridge in Echizen Province (Echizen Fukui no hashi), from the series Remarkable Views of Bridges in Various Provinces (Shokoku meikyō kiran) is an ink print by the Japonisme artist Katsushika Hokusai. It dates from 1828 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1828 by the prolific ukiyo‑e artist Katsushika Hokusai, this woodblock print portrays the Fukui Bridge of Echizen Province. Part of the series titled “Remarkable Views of Bridges in Various Provinces,” the work is executed in ink and color on paper and is now part of the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Subject & Meaning
The image presents a tranquil river crossing where a modest bridge supports pedestrians and a horse. Flanked by modest buildings and trees, the scene extends toward a distant mountain under a clear sky, suggesting everyday travel and the harmonious relationship between human activity and the natural landscape.
Technique & Style
Hokusai employs fine carving to render the bridge’s wooden texture and the delicate folds of clothing. Subtle gradations of ink and muted pigments generate depth, while careful placement of light and shadow conveys a realistic atmosphere without sacrificing the stylized elegance typical of early‑19th‑century ukiyo‑e.
History & Provenance
The print was produced during the late Edo period, a time when series depicting famous bridges were popular among travelers and collectors. After circulating in Japan, the sheet entered the international art market and was eventually acquired by the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it remains on view.
Context
Within Hokusai’s broader oeuvre, the bridge series reflects his interest in topographical subjects and the infrastructure that linked Japan’s provinces. The work aligns with contemporary efforts to document regional landmarks, serving both as visual record and as decorative art for a growing urban audience.
Artist & collection
Artist
Katsushika Hokusai spent his life in Edo, now Tokyo, where he drew and carved prints for a living.
- 諸國名橋奇覧 ゑちぜんふくゐの橋|Fukui Bridge in Echizen Province (Echizen Fukui no hashi), from the series Remarkable Views of Bridges in Various Provinces (Shokoku meikyō kiran)
諸國名橋奇覧 山城あらし山吐月橋 |Togetsu Bridge at Arashiyama in Yamashiro, from the series Remarkable Views of Bridges in Various Provinces (Shokoku meikyō kiran)
葛飾北斎画 冨嶽三十六景
御厩川岸より両国橋夕陽見|Viewing the Sunset over Ryōgoku Bridge from the Onmaya Embankment (Onmayagashi yori Ryōgokubashi sekiyō o miru), from the series Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji (Fugaku sanjūrokkei)
諸國名橋奇覧 東海道岡崎矢はぎのはし|Yahagi Bridge at Okazaki on the Tōkaidō (Tōkaidō Okazaki Yahagi no hashi), from the series Remarkable Views of Bridges in Various Provinces (Shokoku meikyō kiran)
冨嶽三十六景 御厩川岸より両国橋夕陽見|Viewing the Sunset over Ryōgoku Bridge from the Onmayagashi Embankment (Onmayagashi yori Ryōgokubashi sekiyō o miru), from the series Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji (Fugaku sanjūrokkei)
諸國名橋奇覧 東海道岡崎矢はぎのはし|Yahagi Bridge at Okazaki on the Tōkaidō (Tōkaidō Okazaki Yahagi no hashi), from the series Remarkable Views of Bridges in Various Provinces (Shokoku meikyō kiran)
An Ancient Picture of the Eight Part Bridge in Mikawa Province (from the series Curious Views of Famous Bridges in the Provinces)
歌川広重画 「東海道 五十三次 大尾 京 三条大はし」|The Great Bridge at Sanjō (Taibi, Kyō, Sanjō Ōhashi), from the series The Tōkaidō Road: The Fifty-Three Stations (Tōkaidō: Gojūsan tsugi)