Artwork
京都名所之内 四条河原夕涼|Cooling off in the Evening at Shijogawara
京都名所之内 四条河原夕涼|Cooling off in the Evening at Shijogawara is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Utagawa Hiroshige. It dates from 1834 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
- Accession no.
- JP1319
- Credit line
- Rogers Fund, 1922
About this work
Overview
Utagawa Hiroshige's 'Cooling off in the Evening at Shijogawara' is a woodblock print created around 1834, featuring a serene riverside scene at dusk. It is part of his 'Scenic Places in Kyoto' series, showcasing the city's notable locations.
Subject & Meaning
The print depicts a lively gathering on a wooden platform by a calm river, with people relaxing and socializing. A long building with red lanterns lines the riverbank, adding warmth to the evening atmosphere.
Technique & Style
Hiroshige employed bold outlines and flat colors to convey a sense of activity and crowding, characteristic of his ukiyo-e style. The glowing lanterns against the darkening sky create a vibrant contrast.
Context
As part of 'Scenic Places in Kyoto', this work diverges from the typical ukiyo-e focus on urban pleasure districts, instead highlighting everyday life and natural scenery in and around Kyoto, the former imperial capital.
Artist & collection
Artist
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.
- 二代歌川広重画 「諸国名所百景 京都四条夕すずみ」|Enjoying the Evening Cool at Shijō in Kyoto, from the series One Hundred Famous Views in the Various Provinces (Shokoku meisho hyakkei)
江戸高名会亭尽 柳ばし夜景 万八|The Manpachi at Evening in Yanagibashi
東海道五十三次之内 神奈川 宿台之景|View of the Kanagawa station at sunset
近江八景之内 瀬田夕照|Sunset at Seta
東海道五十三次之内 神奈川 台之景|View of Kangawa at Sunset