Who painted Night Scene on the Sumida River?

Night Scene on the Sumida River was painted by Utagawa Hiroshige in 1849-01-01.

Where can I see Night Scene on the Sumida River?

Night Scene on the Sumida River is held by Cleveland Museum of Art.

What movement is Night Scene on the Sumida River?

Night Scene on the Sumida River is associated with Ukiyo-e.

Artwork

Night Scene on the Sumida River

Utagawa Hiroshige , 1849

Night Scene on the Sumida River is an unspecified painting by the Ukiyo-e artist Utagawa Hiroshige. It dates from 1849 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.

About this work

History & Provenance

It has been exhibited as part of the museum's holdings of ukiyo-e paintings, including displays highlighting Japanese art from the 19th century.

Utagawa Hiroshige created Night Scene on the Sumida River in 1849, as documented in its cataloging record. The work entered the Cleveland Museum of Art collection in 1920, listed under accession number 1920.274. It remains part of the museum's holdings in Cleveland, Ohio, having been acquired through a donation. The artwork was made in Japan and is classified as a painting from the Edo period.

Night Scene on the Sumida River is part of the Cleveland Museum of Art's collection, cataloged under accession number 1920.274. The work was created in 1849 in Japan and is classified as a painting. It has been exhibited as part of the museum's holdings of ukiyo-e paintings, including displays highlighting Japanese art from the 19th century.

Overview

Created in 1849 by the Edo‑period ukiyo‑e artist Utagawa Hiroshige, this work depicts a tranquil nocturnal view of the Sumida River. A low bridge spans the dark water, small boats drift nearby, and a slender wooden tower rises on the riverbank under a pale moon. The composition is rendered in muted tones that suggest moonlight reflected on calm waves.

Subject & Meaning

The scene captures a quiet moment of everyday life along the river, emphasizing the interplay of light and shadow rather than bustling urban activity. By focusing on the serene atmosphere, Hiroshige invites contemplation of the river’s rhythm and the subtle presence of human structures within a natural setting.

Technique & Style

Executed in the ukiyo‑e woodblock tradition, the image employs soft, washed‑out pigments that blend the boats, trees, and mist into a cohesive, dreamlike haze. Delicate line work outlines the bridge and tower, while the limited color palette reinforces the nocturnal mood and the faint glow of moonlight.

Context

The work reflects a shift in ukiyo‑e toward atmospheric landscapes, a trend that Hiroshige helped popularize. By portraying a calm river night, the print aligns with contemporary Japanese aesthetic ideals that valued simplicity, transience, and the subtle beauty of everyday scenes.

Night Scene on the Sumida River, 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.