The Monkey Bridge in Winter
- Date:
- Mid-19th century
- Medium:
- Woodblock print; hashira-e
- Format:
- Hashira-e
- Source:
- Art Institute of Chicago
Description
The Monkey Bridge (Saruhashi) in Kai Province — a structure reportedly built without a single nail, suspended on branches like a monkey's path — spans a deep gorge on the Katsura River in winter. This hashira-e (pillar print) format suits the dramatic vertical drop of the gorge, the bridge silhouetted against snow and the river far below. The Monkey Bridge was one of Japan's three celebrated natural bridges.
More Prints by Utagawa Hiroshige
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
The Monkey Bridge in Winter was created by Utagawa Hiroshige (歌川広重) in Mid-19th century.
The Monkey Bridge in Winter depicts landscapes, snow scenes, and bridges.