東海道五十三次 鳴海|Narumi, from the series The Fifty-three Stations of the Tōkaidō Road
1916
ink
From the collection of Metropolitan Museum of Art
1916
ink
From the collection of Metropolitan Museum of Art
This print shows a quiet street scene at dusk with wooden buildings and sloping roofs. People in simple clothes walk along a path, some carrying baskets or hats. A river runs along the right side, and a bridge curves over it. Trees line the background, and the sky glows orange near the horizon. The artist used bold outlines and flat colors to keep the scene clear and simple. Notice how the buildings have bright red and blue details that pop against the muted tones. Next, look up Utagawa Hiroshige to see how he made everyday scenes feel alive.
