Clear moon over Imado Bridge - Asakusa in snow
- Medium:
- Woodblock print
- Source:
- Japanese Art Open Database
- Image courtesy of
- Japanese Art Open Database
Description
This print from Kiyochika's celebrated kōsen-ga series depicts the Imado Bridge over the Sumida River in Asakusa under a winter night sky. A clear moon illuminates the snow-covered bridge and surrounding landscape, producing the dramatic chiaroscuro effects that distinguish Kiyochika's work from earlier Edo-period ukiyo-e. Western oil-painting techniques absorbed from Charles Wirgman influenced his rendering of reflected moonlight on snow and water, while bokashi gradations in the sky transition from deep indigo to pale luminescence near the lunar disk. Imado Bridge was a recognizable landmark in the shitamachi district, and its depiction in snow situates the composition within the meisho-e tradition while thoroughly transforming it through Kiyochika's atmospheric approach.
More Prints by Kobayashi Kiyochika
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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)"
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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)
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Featured in Collections
Curated cross-cuts that include this print.
Frequently Asked Questions
Clear moon over Imado Bridge - Asakusa in snow was created by Kobayashi Kiyochika (小林清親).
Clear moon over Imado Bridge - Asakusa in snow depicts landscapes.