Created from high-quality wood, milled with simple clean lines and presented with a satin finish. Includes an off-white mount that will not discolour or fade with age. - Simple, elegant design - Premium, fine art paper with a gently textured surface - Handmade by specialist picture framers - FSC certified off-white mat / window mount - Delivered ready for hanging

"Suidobashi Bridge and Surugadai" (1857) is part of Utagawa Hiroshige’s famous woodblock print series "One Hundred Famous Views of Edo." The scene depicted in this print showcases a dynamic yet serene view of the Suidobashi Bridge with the scenic backdrop of the Surugadai area in the Edo period, present-day Tokyo.

- Foreground: The foreground captures the wooden Suidobashi Bridge, with its elegantly curved structure spanning a serene river. The bridge is bustling with life as figures, clothed in traditional Edo period attire, cross it. The array of robes, particularly a few bright red and blue ones, adds specks of vibrancy.

- Middle Ground: Just beyond the bridge, the embankments host houses, boats moored along the waterway, and a few boats mid-journey down the river. This bustling milieu reflects everyday activity in Edo.

- Background: Within the backdrop, the rising hill of Surugadai frames the scene. On the hilltop, amidst verdant trees, rest traditional Edo architectures. The horizon is subtly graded from deeper colors to a lighter hue, hinting at the time transition from dusk to nightfall or daybreak. The sky’s gradient bursts into a glowing orange, seemingly either from the setting sun or the rise of dawn, lending a poetic and atmospheric depth.

- Composition & Style: As typical of Hiroshige’s work, the composition of the print is exquisitely balanced. Clear, strong lines define the architectural elements and the flowing curve of the bridge, while the color palette masterfully captures seasonal and temporal subtleties. The ukiyo-e style is present with an emphasis on everyday scenes transformed into picturesque beauty.

Utagawa Hiroshige (1797-1858) was a master of the ukiyo-e school, renowned for his landscape prints and his series showcasing the beauty and life of Edo-period Japan.

- Series Context: "Suidobashi Bridge and Surugadai" is from the "One Hundred Famous Views of Edo" series, which Hiroshige created between 1856 and 1858. This series is one of his last major works and is often considered the pinnacle of his career. Each print in this collection exemplifies his skill in capturing the transient beauty of landscapes and urban scenes.

- Artistic Movements: Hiroshige’s works fall within the Edo period ukiyo-e movement, known for its genre scenes, landscapes, and bijin-ga (pictures of beautiful women). His landscapes, particularly, laid the groundwork for Western Impressionists like Vincent van Gogh, who drew inspiration from Hiroshige's composition and use of color.

- Museum and Location: The original prints from the "One Hundred Famous Views of Edo" series can be found in various prominent collections worldwide. Notable museums that house Hiroshige’s works include the Tokyo National Museum, the British Museum in London, the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.

- Noteworthy Details: Hiroshige’s portrayal of Edo offers a valuable glimpse into the urban and natural landscapes of an era long past, earning him the title of "poet of travel." His ability to weave tranquility and motion into everyday vistas uniquely positions his oeuvre as a timeless celebration of Japanese culture and environment.

The "Suidobashi Bridge and Surugadai" print skillfully melds traditional Japanese aesthetics with universal themes of nature’s beauty and human activity, capturing an evocative snapshot of Edo that remains enchanting to viewers centuries later.