Artwork
諸國名橋奇覧 摂洲天満橋|Tenman Bridge at Settsu Province (Sesshū Tenmanbashi), from the series Remarkable Views of Bridges in Various Provinces (Shokoku meikyō kiran)
諸國名橋奇覧 摂洲天満橋|Tenman Bridge at Settsu Province (Sesshū Tenmanbashi), 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 1804 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Tenman Bridge at Settsu Province is a woodblock print executed in ink and color on paper, dating from 1804.
About this work
Overview
Tenman Bridge at Settsu Province is a woodblock print executed in ink and color on paper, dating from 1804. It belongs to Hokusai’s series that surveys notable bridges across the Japanese provinces. The work is part of the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Subject & Meaning
The image depicts a sweeping, arched bridge spanning a tranquil river, its deck crowded with figures and illuminated lanterns. Small boats bearing brightly lit lanterns drift near the shore, while surrounding architecture and foliage frame the bustling scene, suggesting a festive or evening atmosphere along a commercial waterway.
Technique & Style
Hokusai employs strong contour lines and areas of flat, saturated color to delineate forms, creating a clear, organized composition. The contrast between the warm glow of the lanterns and the cool blue of the water enhances depth without relying on shading, a hallmark of early 19th‑century ukiyo‑e printmaking.
History & Provenance
Produced as part of the “Remarkable Views of Bridges in Various Provinces” series, the print reflects Hokusai’s interest in travel and infrastructure. It entered the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s collection through acquisition in the early 20th century, where it remains on view as an example of Edo‑period bridge imagery.
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 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)
葛飾北斎画 冨嶽三十六景 深川万年橋下|Under the Mannen Bridge at Fukagawa (Fukagawa Mannenbashi shita), from the series Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji (Fugaku sanjūrokkei)
冨嶽三十六景 深川万年橋下|Under the Mannen Bridge at Fukagawa (Fukagawa Mannenbashi shita), from the series Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji (Fugaku sanjūrokkei)
諸國名橋奇覧 かめゐど天神たいこはし|The Arched Bridge at Kameido Tenjin Shrine (Kameido Tenjin Taikobashi), from the series Remarkable Views of Bridges in Various Provinces (Shokoku meikyō kiran)
Tōtō Ryōgokubashi natsu keshiki|Panoramic View of Ryōgoku Bridge in the Summer
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)
「諸國名橋寄覧 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)
諸國名橋奇覧 すほうの国きんたいはし|Kintai Bridge in Suō Province (Suō no kuni Kintaibashi), from the series Remarkable Views of Bridges in Various Provinces (Shokoku meikyō kiran)
近江八景之内 瀬田夕照|Long Bridge of Seta
歌川広重画 「東海道五十三次 大尾 京師 三条大橋」|Kyoto: The Great Bridge at Sanjō (Taibi, Keishi, Sanjō Ōhashi), from the series Fifty-Three Stations of the Tōkaidō (Tōkaidō gojūsan tsugi)