Ando Hiroshige Woodblock Meguro Drum Bridge Sunset Hill
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Description
THIS PRINT DEPICTS THE VALLEY OF THE MEGURO RIVER with a light snow falling through a gray sky, a bright blue band of water against a world of white, and the skillful suggestion of snow accumulated on the branches of the trees. Of the two attractions mentioned in the title, the Drum Bridge was the more celebrated. Arched bridges were unusual enough in Edo, but even more curious was a stone bridge, which offered few advantages in a city prone to earthquakes. Rounded forms and stone structures were more common in China than in Japan, suggesting a Chinese prototype for this bridge, although it is said to have been designed in the 1740s by a wandering priest who had seen a similar one in Kyushu. It is unclear how long the original Drum Bridge survived, and photos show that it had already been replaced by a steel bridge by 1919. The road to the left leads up a steep slope known as Gyoninzaka, named after a wandering ascetic who founded the temple of Daienji on the side of the hill. The slope survives today, charming and uncrowded, leading down from Meguro Station. Overlooking the road to the southeast was the Sunset Hill of the title, here shown steeply curving up to the left. The hill was once known for its maple trees, who brilliant reflection in the autumn sun gave it the name; the maples themselves had already disappeared, however, by 1834. In Hiroshige's day, the hill was occupied by a suburban estate of Hosokawa, daimyo of Kumamoto, and since 1931 it has been the site of a large hotel. A subtle touch is added by the gray roof hidden in the lower right behind Hiroshige's signature. This would be known to his audience as the Shogatsuya, a teahouse beside the bridge that was famous for its shiruko mochi, a sweet bean paste soup. Shogatsu means "new year", a hidden hint of the coming of spring.
Utagawa Hiroshige or Ando Hiroshige (1797-1858) was a Japanese artist during the 19th century and is considered the last great master of the ukiyo-e movement. His approach was more poetic and ambient than the typical ukiyo-e style, and his innovative compositions were a great influence to Western painters, such as Vincent van Gogh. The term ukiyo-e translates to "pictures of the floating world" and refers to a genre of Japanese art with a wide span of imagery such as kabuki actors, folk tales, landscapes, and even erotica. This movement was critical in forming the Western perception of Japanese art.
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Condition
Fine, no flaws
Buyer's Premium
- 15%
Ando Hiroshige Woodblock Meguro Drum Bridge Sunset Hill
Estimate $250 - $300
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