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Beneath a winter sky delicately sprinkled with snowflakes, the Taiko Bridge of Meguro spans a river of deep blue water. A few passersby, sheltered under their parasols and straw hats, silently cross the snowy landscape. The trees bend under their white mantle, while the hills and houses gradually fade into the twilight.
This highly poetic composition is the work of Utagawa Hiroshige, one of the most celebrated masters of Japanese woodblock prints. Titled "Taiko Bridge at Meguro and Sunset Hill" (Meguro Taikobashi Yūhi no Oka), it belongs to his prestigious series "One Hundred Famous Views of Edo" (Meisho Edo Hyakkei), published between 1856 and 1858. Created in 1857, it admirably illustrates Hiroshige's art, his ability to transform a familiar landscape into a scene of profound serenity.
The composition captivates with its subtle gradations of blue and gray, the delicate snow-covered branches, and the contrast between the whiteness of the landscape and the colorful silhouettes of the travelers. The vast winter sky, which occupies a large part of the image, lends the whole a remarkable impression of calm and depth.
About this edition
This copy is a 20th-century Japanese edition, produced during the Shōwa period (1926-1989), based on Hiroshige's original composition published in 1857.
It is distinguished by the freshness of its colors, particularly the deep blues of the river and the delicate nuances of the sky. The details of the bridge, the figures, and the snow-covered trees remain remarkably sharp, preserving all the finesse of the original drawing. The light margins elegantly highlight the composition, which maintains a beautiful overall harmony.
Artist: Utagawa Hiroshige (1797-1858)
Series: One Hundred Famous Views of Edo (Meisho Edo Hyakkei)
Japanese Title: 目黒太鼓橋夕日の岡
Technique: Japanese woodblock print
Edition: 20th-century reprint, Shōwa period (1926-1989)
Date of Creation: 1857 (Ansei era)
Format: Vertical Ōban
Dimensions: Approximately 36 × 25 cm
Condition: Excellent condition, with vibrant colors and well-preserved details.
Origin: Japan
About the Artist: Utagawa Hiroshige (1797-1858) is one of the greatest masters of ukiyo-e. Renowned for his poetic landscapes, he profoundly renewed the art of Japanese printmaking through his treatment of light, the seasons, and atmospheric phenomena. His series *The Fifty-Three Stations of the Tōkaidō* and *One Hundred Famous Views of Edo* are among the masterpieces of 19th-century Japanese art.
Ref: BXM14JDGQ1