Before Makura Bridge, Sumida River, from
- Medium:
- Woodblock print
- Source:
- Hara Shobo
- Image courtesy of
- Hara Shobo
Description
This meisho-e depicts a view of the Sumida River in the vicinity of Makura Bridge, a subject that situates it within Kiyochika's extended engagement with the riverine landscape of Tokyo. The Sumida functioned as both a transportation artery and a recreational destination, and its bridges, banks, and reflected light provided Kiyochika with material for some of his most characteristic work in the kosen-ga mode. The composition likely presents the bridge structure against water or sky rendered with gradated bokashi to suggest the atmospheric conditions — mist, evening light, or lantern glow — that define his approach to urban landscape. The title's incompleteness suggests this print belongs to a named series, possibly the celebrated series of Tokyo views that Kiyochika produced during the 1870s and 1880s.
More Prints by Kobayashi Kiyochika
More Landscapes Prints
Lake Kugushi in Wakasa Province (Wakasa Kugushiko), from the series Souvenirs of Travel I (Tabi miyage dai isshu)"
Wakasa Kugushiko
1920
Color woodblock print; oban
Autumn Maple Leaves at Takao, from the album Eight Views of Kyoto (Kyôto hakkei)
Woodblock print
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
Color woodblock print; oban
Tea Kettle, section of a sheet from the series "Mirror of Stone Rubbings of Views of the Provinces" (Kohon meihitsu ishizuri kagami)
n.d.
Woodblock print; ishizuri-e, section of harimaze sheet
Featured in Collections
Curated cross-cuts that include this print.
Frequently Asked Questions
Before Makura Bridge, Sumida River, from was created by Kobayashi Kiyochika (小林清親).
Before Makura Bridge, Sumida River, from depicts landscapes.