Views of the Usui Pass and the Kumagaya Embankment
Woodblock Print
1839 (made)
1839 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This 'uchiwa-e' (rigid fan print) design is by Hiroshige. It is one of three that depict pairs of views along the Kisokaido Highway. This ancient inland route connected eastern Japan with the imperial capital of Kyoto. Another series, datable to the mid-1830s, is entitled the 'Eight Views of the Front and Back Highways' ('Omote Ura Ekiro Hakkei'). It depicts single views along the Tokaido Highway.
The two series have very similar titles. Their dates of production are also very close. This suggests that they were designed to complement one another. The simple colouring of the later series balances the rich polychrome of the 1830s series.
The Usui Pass of the title is on the border between Gunma and Nagano prefectures just to the east of the 19th post-station at Karuizawa. Kumagaya, the 9th post-station, is situated in the north of Saitama Prefecture about halfway between Edo and the Usui Pass. The descending geese you can see in the middle distance appear to be associated with the Kumagaya Embankment. It is not clear what association Hiroshige intended for the Usui Pass.
The two series have very similar titles. Their dates of production are also very close. This suggests that they were designed to complement one another. The simple colouring of the later series balances the rich polychrome of the 1830s series.
The Usui Pass of the title is on the border between Gunma and Nagano prefectures just to the east of the 19th post-station at Karuizawa. Kumagaya, the 9th post-station, is situated in the north of Saitama Prefecture about halfway between Edo and the Usui Pass. The descending geese you can see in the middle distance appear to be associated with the Kumagaya Embankment. It is not clear what association Hiroshige intended for the Usui Pass.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Titles |
|
| Materials and techniques | Colour print from woodblocks |
| Brief description | Woodblock print, Utagawa Hiroshige I; 'Views of the Usui Pass and the Kumagaya Embankment', from the series 'Eight Views of the Back and Front Highways'; fan print, Japanese, 1839 |
| Physical description | Fan print, aiban size. Artist signature: Hiroshige ga. Publisher mark: Ibaya Senzaburo. Censorship seal: kiwame. |
| Dimensions |
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| Style | |
| Credit line | Webb Bequest |
| Places depicted | |
| Summary | This 'uchiwa-e' (rigid fan print) design is by Hiroshige. It is one of three that depict pairs of views along the Kisokaido Highway. This ancient inland route connected eastern Japan with the imperial capital of Kyoto. Another series, datable to the mid-1830s, is entitled the 'Eight Views of the Front and Back Highways' ('Omote Ura Ekiro Hakkei'). It depicts single views along the Tokaido Highway. The two series have very similar titles. Their dates of production are also very close. This suggests that they were designed to complement one another. The simple colouring of the later series balances the rich polychrome of the 1830s series. The Usui Pass of the title is on the border between Gunma and Nagano prefectures just to the east of the 19th post-station at Karuizawa. Kumagaya, the 9th post-station, is situated in the north of Saitama Prefecture about halfway between Edo and the Usui Pass. The descending geese you can see in the middle distance appear to be associated with the Kumagaya Embankment. It is not clear what association Hiroshige intended for the Usui Pass. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | E.4877-1919 |
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| Record created | November 17, 2003 |
| Record URL |
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