Artwork Page for Evening Snow at Asuka Hill, from the series Eight Views of the Environs of Edo

Details / Information for Evening Snow at Asuka Hill, from the series Eight Views of the Environs of Edo

Evening Snow at Asuka Hill, from the series Eight Views of the Environs of Edo

c. 1837–38

Utagawa Hiroshige 歌川 広重

(Japanese, 1797–1858)
Culture
Japan, Edo period (1615–1868)
Medium
color woodblock print
Measurements
Sheet: 22 x 34.4 cm (8 11/16 x 13 9/16 in.)
Credit Line
Bequest of James Parmelee 1940.983
Public Domain
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Location
Not on view
Print

Description

This print series was first privately produced for the Taihaidō poetry club led by a “wild” or comic verse (kyōka) poet with the humorous pen name Taihaidō Donshō (or Nomimasu), which translates to “Hall of the Large Cup, Swallow a Liter (or Drink).” The initial print had three poems by members of the club at the top. This print, released as part of a public set of the series later on, has but a single poem, not featured in the original, which reads:

The snow falling heavily in the dusk not only covers up signs
that warn against breaking branches of the cherry trees on Asuka Hill,
but breaks down the branches, as well.

It is signed Shōyōan Kōjin (or Takahito), which means “Hermitage of Pine and Cherry, High Person.”
A horizontally oriented woodblock print depicts a snowy landscape under a dark, flake-filled sky. A sloping white hill bisects the scene diagonally, rising toward the right and dotted with snow-dusted, spindly trees. In the foreground, figures in wide pointed hats and neutral garments traverse the scene; one leads a laden horse right, while others walk left toward small houses. Columns of black Japanese calligraphy are scattered across the muted, wintry composition.

Evening Snow at Asuka Hill, from the series Eight Views of the Environs of Edo

c. 1837–38

Utagawa Hiroshige

(Japanese, 1797–1858)
Japan, Edo period (1615–1868)

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