#1 Nihon bashi Tōun no kei (Clouds in the East Over Nihon Bridge)

Utagawa Hiroshige, artist

1797–1858

#1 Nihon bashi Tōun no kei (Clouds in the East Over Nihon Bridge), 1855–1857, Edo period (1600–1868)

Portfolio/Series title: Gojūsan tsugi meisho zukai (Collected Pictures of the Famous 53 Stations), popularly known as Tate-e Tōkaidō (Vertical Tokaido)

Where object was made: Japan

Material/technique: color woodcut

Dimensions:
Image Dimensions Height/Width (Height x Width): 343 x 227 mm
Image Dimensions Height/Width (Height x Width): 13 1/2 x 8 15/16 in
Sheet/Paper Dimensions (Height x Width): 369 x 248 mm
Sheet/Paper Dimensions (Height x Width): 14 1/2 x 9 3/4 in
Mat Dimensions (Height x Width): 19 x 14 in

Credit line: William Bridges Thayer Memorial

Accession number: 1928.7261

Not on display

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Label texts

Archive Label 1989:
The Tōkaidō (eastern Sea Route) was the main road connecting the capital of Edo (present-day Tokyo) with Kyoto. The route was heavily traveled by messengers, pilgrims, merchants, and feudal lords. Woodblock prints showing scenes of the 53 stations along the Tōkaidō in the nineteenth century. Hiroshige was the most celebrated artist of this subject.
Hiroshige designed this print in a vertical format. Here, clouds at the top and bottom of the print have parted to reveal a bird's-eye view of the bustling activities near the bridge Nihonbashi, the departure point for the journey from Edo to Kyoto. In the distance, Mount Fuji rises majestically from the plains, beckoning to the traveler about to begin the trek west.