Edo Meisho
- Medium:
- Woodblock print
- Format:
- Oban
- Source:
- British Museum
Typical Price
- Later reprint (Meiji–Taisho era publishers): $50–$400
- Good later impression (Edo-period): $1,500–$6,000
- Good early impression (vivid color and detail): $6,000–$25,000
- Fine early impression (exceptional condition and freshness): $25,000–$70,000
Hiroshige's images of Edo life—temples, bridges, markets, and seasonal celebrations—are valuable historical documents as well as masterpieces of design. His depictions of the city he loved made him the preeminent chronicler of Edo culture in prints.
Description
"Edo Meisho" — Famous Places of Edo — was a broad category encompassing dozens of prints depicting the sights of Japan's capital city. This print shows one of the celebrated landmarks of Edo, rendered in Hiroshige's characteristic style that blends topographic accuracy with lyrical atmosphere. Views of Edo sold briskly to residents who enjoyed seeing their city transformed into art.
More Prints by Utagawa Hiroshige
More Urban Scenes Prints
A Hundred Shades of Ink of Edo: Kiyonaga's Pipe (Edo zumi hyaku shoku: Kiyonaga no kiseru)
Woodblock print
View of Kabuki Theater from Matsuya (Ginza Matsuya yori Kabukiza), no. 3 from the series "Pictures of Ginza, First Series (Gashu Ginza dai isshu)"
1928
Color lithograph
Distant View of Mitsukoshi Movie Theater in Shinjuku from the Sixth Floor of Hoteiya (Hoteiya rokkai kara Shinjuku Mitsukoshi Musashi no kan enbo zu), no. 1 from the series "Scenery of Shinjuku (Gashu Shinjuku fukei)"
1930
Color lithograph
Spring Dusk at the Tōshō Shrine in Ueno
1948
Woodblock print, ink and color on paper
Featured in Collections
Curated cross-cuts that include this print.
Frequently Asked Questions
Edo Meisho was created by Utagawa Hiroshige (歌川広重).
Edo Meisho depicts urban scenes and landscapes, set at Tokyo.