Artwork
東海道五十三次 二川|Futakawa, from the series The Fifty-three Stations of the Tōkaidō Road
東海道五十三次 二川|Futakawa, 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.
- JP3474
- Credit line
- Gift of Cole J. Younger, 1975
About this work
Overview
Futakawa is a woodblock print from the series The Fifty-three Stations of the Tōkaidō Road, created by Utagawa Hiroshige. It depicts a rainy scene by a river, showcasing the artist's focus on landscape.
Subject & Meaning
The print captures a moment on the Tōkaidō Road, a historic route between Edo and Kyoto. Travelers are shown seeking shelter under umbrellas and tents, conveying a sense of everyday life during inclement weather.
Technique & Style
Hiroshige employed bold black lines to convey rain and texture, while colors are subdued by the gray sky, evoking a damp atmosphere. The use of line work and color creates depth and mood in the scene.
History & Provenance
The print is part of a series created by Hiroshige, a prominent ukiyo-e artist, marking a shift in his work from urban entertainment to landscapes. The exact date of creation is not specified, but it is associated with his mature period.
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.
- 東海道五十三次 土山|Tsuchiyama, from the series The Fifty-three Stations of the Tōkaidō Road
東海道五十三次 袋井|Fukuroi, from the series The Fifty-three Stations of the Tōkaidō Road
東海道五十三次 二川|Futagawa
東海道五十三次・庄野 白雨|Sudden Shower at Shōno, from the series Fifty-three Stations of the Tōkaidō
木曽海道六拾九次之内 須原|Suhara, from The Sixty-nine Stations of the Kisokaidō
東海道五十三次 池鯉鮒|Chiryūshuku, from the series The Fifty-three Stations of the Tōkaidō Road
東海道五十三次 亀山|Kameyama, from the series The Fifty-three Stations of the Tōkaidō Road
東海道五十三次 土山 春の雨|Spring Rain at Tsuchiyama, from the series Fifty-three Stations of the Tōkaidō
東海道五十三次 鳴海|Narumi, from the series The Fifty-three Stations of the Tōkaidō Road
The Fifty-Three Stations of the Tokaido: Otsu
東海道五十三次之内 藤川 棒鼻の図|Station Thirty-Eight: Fujikawa, Scene at the Border, from the Fifty-Three Stations of the Tokaido