Who painted 東海道五十三次岡崎矢はぎ川|Okazaki?

東海道五十三次岡崎矢はぎ川|Okazaki was painted by Utagawa Hiroshige in 1840.

Where can I see 東海道五十三次岡崎矢はぎ川|Okazaki?

東海道五十三次岡崎矢はぎ川|Okazaki is held by Metropolitan Museum of Art.

What movement is 東海道五十三次岡崎矢はぎ川|Okazaki?

東海道五十三次岡崎矢はぎ川|Okazaki is associated with Romanticism.

Artwork

東海道五十三次岡崎矢はぎ川|Okazaki

Utagawa Hiroshige , 1840

東海道五十三次岡崎矢はぎ川|Okazaki is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Utagawa Hiroshige. It dates from 1840 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Accession no.: JP789
Credit line: The Francis Lathrop Collection, Purchase, Frederick C. Hewitt Fund, 1911

About this work

Overview

Okazaki is a woodblock print from Utagawa Hiroshige's The Fifty-three Stations of the Tōkaidō series, created circa 1840. It captures a serene riverside moment along the historic Tōkaidō road.

Subject & Meaning

The print depicts everyday life along the Minagi River near Okazaki, showcasing a wooden bridge, travelers, and a distant castle under a soft sunset. It highlights ordinary moments in a renowned travel route.

Technique & Style

Hiroshige employed bold colors and simple shapes to convey a sense of peaceful movement. The composition blends trees and buildings into the background, emphasizing the scene's tranquility and activity.

History & Provenance

Created around 1840 by Utagawa Hiroshige, a prominent Edo period ukiyo-e artist, as part of his innovative landscape series that diverged from typical urban ukiyo-e themes.

Context

Part of The Fifty-three Stations of the Tōkaidō, this work reflects Hiroshige's focus on nature and travel, contrasting with the prevalent urban subjects in ukiyo-e at the time.

東海道五十三次之内　岡崎　矢矧の橋|Okazaki, Tenshin no Hashi, 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.