What movement is Tamagawa Shugetsu|江戸近郊八景之内玉川秋月|Autumn Moon on the Tama River?

Tamagawa Shugetsu|江戸近郊八景之内玉川秋月|Autumn Moon on the Tama River is associated with Romanticism.

Artwork

Tamagawa Shugetsu|江戸近郊八景之内玉川秋月|Autumn Moon on the Tama River

Tamagawa Shugetsu|江戸近郊八景之内玉川秋月|Autumn Moon on the Tama River is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Utagawa Hiroshige. It dates from 1838 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

About this work

Overview

Tamagawa Shugetsu, or Autumn Moon on the Tama River, is a woodblock print created by Utagawa Hiroshige around 1838. It is part of a landscape series and showcases the artist's skill in capturing serene natural settings.

Subject & Meaning

The print depicts a tranquil riverside scene at dusk, with a prominent tree on the shore, calm water, and distant mountains fading into a soft blue sky. A large moon is suspended low over the water, evoking a sense of peacefulness.

Technique & Style

Hiroshige employed thin, repeating lines to create dark shapes, such as shadows under the tree and the hull of a boat, giving the flat paper a three-dimensional appearance. This technique, reminiscent of cross-hatching, adds depth to the composition.

History & Provenance

The print is held in the collection of The Metropolitan Museum of Art, exemplifying Hiroshige's contribution to the ukiyo-e tradition, which often focused on urban scenes but was expanded by Hiroshige to include atmospheric landscapes.

歌川広重画「あふみ八景　石山秋月」|Autumn Moon at Ishiyama, from the series Eight Views of Ōmi (Ōmi hakkei), 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.