Artwork Page for The Monkey Bridge

Details / Information for The Monkey Bridge

The Monkey Bridge

猿橋

early 1830s

Katsushika Taito II 葛飾戴斗

(Japanese, active c. 1810–50s)
Culture
Japan, Edo period (1615–1868)
Medium
color woodblock print
Measurements
26 x 23.5 cm (10 1/4 x 9 1/4 in.)
Credit Line
Gift from J. H. Wade 1921.413
Public Domain
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Location
Not on view
Print

Description

Taito II, who studied with Hokusai, created this image of the Monkey Bridge in Kai Province, west of Tokyo. By depicting the moon beneath the narrow bridge, he emphasized the height of the gorge.

Before it was given to the museum by one of its founders, Jeptha H. Wade, this print was trimmed. Uncut versions of the same scene include a section with a poetic inscription designed to look like a rubbing from a stone stele, or commemorative marker, often erected in scenic locations. Ink was also applied differently to produce varying effects in other impressions.
A color woodblock print features a landscape framed by a high, arching bridge. A large white moon is suspended in a pale sky beneath the span. Below, narrow boats navigate a deep blue river past houses with reddish-brown roofs. Jagged gray cliffs are textured with black dashes, while dark green foliage is conveyed through dense clusters of brushstrokes. On the right, vertical calligraphy and a red seal appear against the rock face.

The Monkey Bridge

early 1830s

Katsushika Taito II

(Japanese, active c. 1810–50s)
Japan, Edo period (1615–1868)

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