Who painted Shimosuwa, from Sixty-Nine Stations of the Kisokaidō?

Shimosuwa, from Sixty-Nine Stations of the Kisokaidō was painted by Utagawa Hiroshige in 1836.

Where can I see Shimosuwa, from Sixty-Nine Stations of the Kisokaidō?

Shimosuwa, from Sixty-Nine Stations of the Kisokaidō is held by Cleveland Museum of Art.

What movement is Shimosuwa, from Sixty-Nine Stations of the Kisokaidō?

Shimosuwa, from Sixty-Nine Stations of the Kisokaidō is associated with Romanticism.

Artwork

Shimosuwa, from Sixty-Nine Stations of the Kisokaidō

Utagawa Hiroshige , 1836

Shimosuwa, from Sixty-Nine Stations of the Kisokaidō is a print by the Romanticist artist Utagawa Hiroshige. It dates from 1836 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.

Accession no.: 1985.322
Credit line: The Kelvin Smith Collection, given by Mrs. Kelvin Smith

About this work

Look up more prints in the series Sixty-Nine Stations of the Kisokaidō by Utagawa Hiroshige (Japanese, 1797–1858).

You see travelers eating at an inn while another man soaks in a wooden hot-spring tub outside.

This print is from a series showing rest stops along a long road between Tokyo and Kyoto. Shimosuwa was the only stop with natural hot springs, so Hiroshige made the steamy bath the star. The innkeeper’s smile and the bather’s relief tell you how good the water felt after a day of walking.

Look up more prints in the series Sixty-Nine Stations of the Kisokaidō by Utagawa Hiroshige (Japanese, 1797–1858).

Overview

This woodblock print, 'Shimosuwa', depicts a scene of travelers resting at an inn along the Kisokaidō road, highlighting the unique attraction of the location: a natural hot spring.

Subject & Meaning

The print contrasts the enjoyment of travelers eating at the inn with another figure relaxing in a hot spring bath outside, conveying the comfort and relief offered by this stop.

Technique & Style

As part of the Sixty-Nine Stations of the Kisokaidō series, this print exemplifies the collaborative ukiyo-e style of Utagawa Hiroshige and Keisai Eisen, though specific techniques used in 'Shimosuwa' are not detailed here.

History & Provenance

Created as part of a series illustrating stops along the 534 km Kisokaidō road, 'Shimosuwa' stands out for featuring the only natural hot spring along the route, a detail emphasized in the print.

Context

Part of a larger series documenting travel stations between Edo (Tokyo) and Kyoto, 'Shimosuwa' reflects the importance of rest stops and natural attractions for travelers in 19th-century Japan.

Legacy

As a piece of the renowned Sixty-Nine Stations of the Kisokaidō series, 'Shimosuwa' contributes to the enduring popularity of ukiyo-e prints in Japanese art history, though its individual impact is not specifically highlighted.

The Fifty-Three Stations of the Tokaido: Otsu, 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.