True Pictures of Famous Places in Tokyo: Night View of Sumidagawa River
by Inoue Yasuji
Description
The night view of the Sumidagawa River — the great artery of old Edo, its black water crossed by bridges and worked by boats even after dark — is one of Yasuji's most atmospheric compositions. The river at night had a particular quality in Edo culture: mysterious, liminal, associated with both pleasure and danger, the crossing point between the respectable city and its transgressive margins. Yasuji renders the nocturnal river with a quiet simplicity, the dark water and dim lights creating a mood of urban contemplation that goes beyond mere topographic documentation.
More Prints by Inoue Yasuji
The Emperor Meiji and Empress in a Carriage during their Silver Wedding Anniversary Celebration at Aoyama
True Pictures of Famous Places in Tokyo: Taro Inari Shrine in Asakusa-tanbo
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True Pictures of Famous Places in Tokyo: The Burnt Remains of Ryogokubashi Bridge
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True Pictures of Famous Places in Tokyo: The Destruction of Hisamatsucho in a Fire that Started in Kanda
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More Landscapes Prints
Lake Kugushi in Wakasa Province (Wakasa Kugushiko), from the series Souvenirs of Travel I (Tabi miyage dai isshu)"
Wakasa Kugushiko
1920
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Autumn Maple Leaves at Takao, from the album Eight Views of Kyoto (Kyôto hakkei)
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The Beach at Kaiganji in Sanuki Province (Sanuki Kaiganji no hama), from the series "Collection of Views of Japan II, Kansai Edition (Nihon fukei shu II Kansai hen)"
1934
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Tea Kettle, section of a sheet from the series "Mirror of Stone Rubbings of Views of the Provinces" (Kohon meihitsu ishizuri kagami)
n.d.
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Featured in Collections
Curated cross-cuts that include this print.
Frequently Asked Questions
True Pictures of Famous Places in Tokyo: Night View of Sumidagawa River was created by Inoue Yasuji (井上安治).
True Pictures of Famous Places in Tokyo: Night View of Sumidagawa River depicts landscapes, rivers & lakes, and night scenes, set at Tokyo, Sumida River.