Who painted 東海道五十三次荒井|Arai?

東海道五十三次荒井|Arai was painted by Utagawa Hiroshige in 1840.

Where can I see 東海道五十三次荒井|Arai?

東海道五十三次荒井|Arai is held by Metropolitan Museum of Art.

What movement is 東海道五十三次荒井|Arai?

東海道五十三次荒井|Arai is associated with Romanticism.

Artwork

東海道五十三次荒井|Arai

Utagawa Hiroshige , 1840

東海道五十三次荒井|Arai is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Utagawa Hiroshige. It dates from 1840 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Accession no.: JP782
Credit line: The Francis Lathrop Collection, Purchase, Frederick C. Hewitt Fund, 1911

About this work

Overview

This woodblock print, Arai, is part of Utagawa Hiroshige's series The Fifty-three Stations of the Tōkaidō, created around 1840. It is a representative work of Hiroshige's landscape style, characterized by a serene and evocative atmosphere.

Subject & Meaning

The print depicts a tranquil lakeside scene with a small island, people strolling along a fenced path, and tall pine trees lining the shore. A stone lantern and a bridge add to the scenery, set against a looming mountain in the background.

Technique & Style

Hiroshige employed simple shapes and bold colors to achieve a dreamy effect. The composition features soft, flat colors and clean lines, with the trees and water blending into the surrounding environment, characteristic of his signature ukiyo-e style.

History & Provenance

The print is held in The Metropolitan Museum of Art's collection, exemplifying Hiroshige's contribution to the late Edo period's ukiyo-e art, which shifted focus from urban to natural and scenic themes.

Artist & collection

Artist

Utagawa Hiroshige

Utagawa Hiroshige (歌川広重) or Andō Hiroshige (安藤広重), born Andō Tokutarō (安藤徳太郎; 1797 – 12 October 1858), was a Japanese ukiyo-e artist, considered the last great master of that tradition.