Artwork

Full Moon over Takanawa, from the series Famous Places in the Eastern Capital

Full Moon over Takanawa, from the series Famous Places in the Eastern Capital is a print by the Romanticist artist Utagawa Hiroshige. It dates from 1831 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.

Accession no.: 1930.187
Credit line: Bequest of Edward L. Whittemore

About this work

Overview

Full Moon over Takanawa is a print by Utagawa Hiroshige, created circa 1831 as part of his series Famous Places in the Eastern Capital. It is a representative work of the artist's landscape prints, which redefined the ukiyo-e genre.

Subject & Meaning

The print depicts a serene nocturnal scene: a full moon rises over a tranquil body of water, with birds in flight, boats near the shore, and a curved bridge. The composition captures the atmospheric beauty of a notable Edo location.

Technique & Style

Hiroshige employed bold outlines and flat colors to convey a sense of peacefulness. The moon is rendered as a glowing circle, while the birds are simplified into lively shapes, demonstrating the artist's distinctive style.

Context

This work is part of a series documenting famous sites in and around Edo, reflecting Hiroshige's interest in landscapes and travel. It showcases his ability to expand the ukiyo-e genre beyond its traditional focus on urban entertainment.

Takanawa no Meigetsu|東都名所　高輪之明月|Full Moon at Takanawa, Utagawa Hiroshige

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.