The Cleveland Museum of Art

Collection Online as of July 19, 2026

A vertically oriented woodblock print depicts a winter landscape under a dark, speckled sky. Snow-covered mountains fill the background. On the right, a dark blue waterfall pours into a river flowing toward the foreground. In the lower center, tiny figures cross a thin bridge between snow-laden cliffs and pine trees. A red cartouche with Japanese calligraphy sits in the upper right, while more calligraphy and seals appear on the lower right.

Mountain and River on the Kiso Road

1857

Utagawa Hiroshige

(Japanese, 1797–1858)
Japan, Edo period (1615–1868)
One of a triptych of color woodblock prints
Overall: 36 x 25.2 cm (14 3/16 x 9 15/16 in.)
Bequest of Edward L. Whittemore 1930.180.c
Location: Not on view

Description

Late in his career, Hiroshige explored the poetic theme of setsugekka, “snow, moon, and flowers,” in a set of three triptychs. This panoramic scene features a river passing snow-covered mountains along the Kiso Road.
  • ?–1925
    (S. H. Mori, Chicago, IL, sold to Edward L. Whittemore)
    1925–1930
    Edward L. Whittemore [1862–1930], Cleveland, OH, bequest to the Cleveland Museum of Art
    1930–
    The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH
  • Baatsch, Henri-Alexis, and Hiroshige Andō. Hiroshige. London: Thames & Hudson, 2025. Reproduced: pp. 18–19; Mentioned: p. 218
  • Cleveland, Ohio: The Cleveland Museum of Art; December 12, 2004- April 10, 2005. "Visions of Japan: Prints and Paintings from Cleveland Collections".
    Later Japanese Art Gallery Rotation (Gallery 113); February 20 - May 6, 2003.
  • {{cite web|title=Mountain and River on the Kiso Road|url=false|author=Utagawa Hiroshige|year=1857|access-date=19 July 2026|publisher=Cleveland Museum of Art}}

Source URL:

https://www.clevelandart.org/art/1930.180.c