Red Maple Trees at the Tsuten Bridge (Tsutenkyo no momiji), from the series "Famous Places in Kyoto (Kyoto meisho no uchi)" by Utagawa Hiroshige — Japanese Color woodblock print; oban, c. 1834

Red Maple Trees at the Tsuten Bridge (Tsutenkyo no momiji), from the series "Famous Places in Kyoto (Kyoto meisho no uchi)"

by Utagawa Hiroshige

Date:
c. 1834
Medium:
Color woodblock print; oban
Format:
Oban

Typical Price

$1,500–$300,000+. Later impressions of common stations: $1,500–$5,000. Key value factors: Hiroshige's Tokaido and Edo series prints vary enormously by impression quality. First editions with original colors far exceed later printings.

Description

"Red Maple Trees at the Tsuten Bridge" is a ukiyo-e landscape print by Utagawa Hiroshige, created during the late Edo period. This atmospheric composition captures a specific place and moment with the poetic sensibility that characterizes the finest Japanese landscape prints.

The autumn scene captures the fleeting beauty of the Japanese maple in full color — a subject deeply embedded in the aesthetic tradition of mono no aware, the poignant awareness of transience. Utagawa Hiroshige's palette of warm reds, golds, and oranges against cooler backgrounds creates visual depth and seasonal atmosphere.

This print is part of the series "Famous Places in Kyoto (Kyoto meisho no uchi)," which stands as one of Utagawa Hiroshige's significant achievements in documenting Japan's landscapes. The series format allowed the artist to explore variations of light, weather, and season across different locations.

This print represents Utagawa Hiroshige's contribution to the ukiyo-e tradition during the late Edo period. As with all works by this artist, it reflects both individual artistic vision and the broader cultural moment in which it was created. For collectors and admirers of Japanese printmaking, it offers a window into the sophisticated aesthetic world that produced some of the most beloved images in art history.

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