Artwork

東海道五十三次藤川|Fujikawa, from the series The Fifty-three Stations of the Tōkaidō Road

東海道五十三次藤川|Fujikawa, from the series The Fifty-three Stations of the Tōkaidō Road is an ink print by Utagawa Hiroshige. It is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Accession no.: JP3478
Credit line: Gift of Cole J. Younger, 1975

About this work

Overview

This woodblock print, Fujikawa, is part of Utagawa Hiroshige's series The Fifty-three Stations of the Tōkaidō Road. Created using ink and color on paper, it showcases Hiroshige's skill in capturing serene landscapes.

Subject & Meaning

The print depicts a tranquil winter scene at Fujikawa, a stop along the Tōkaidō Road. A loaded horse stands before a row of houses, set against a snowy backdrop with a gray sky, evoking a sense of stillness and cold.

Technique & Style

Hiroshige employed subtle color tones to convey the winter atmosphere, using muted hues to create a calm and peaceful mood. The composition is characteristic of his landscape works, which departed from the traditional ukiyo-e focus on urban life.

History & Provenance

The Fifty-three Stations of the Tōkaidō Road series was created by Hiroshige, a prominent ukiyo-e artist of the late Edo period. Although the exact date of this print is not specified, Hiroshige's work on the series is well-documented.

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.

Museum

Metropolitan Museum of Art

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