In the aftermath of a major 1881 blaze, Kiyochika surveys the charred remains of the Ryōgoku district — a neighbourhood celebrated for its fireworks, riverside teahouses, and the great bridge spanning the Sumida. Scorched timbers and collapsed eaves occupy the foreground while survivors pick through the wreckage under a pale, smoke-hazed sky. The print belongs to a cluster of fire reportage works that demonstrate Kiyochika's role as a visual chronicler of Meiji Tokyo's fragility alongside its modernisation.
Woodblock print
1928
Color lithograph
1930
Color lithograph
1948
Woodblock print, ink and color on paper
Curated cross-cuts that include this print.
Ryōgoku After the Fire was created by Kobayashi Kiyochika (小林清親) in 1881 (Meiji 14).
Ryōgoku After the Fire depicts urban scenes, landscapes, and rivers & lakes.
Ryōgoku After the Fire measures 24.4 × 35.9 cm (Oban format).
