Surugadai, from the series "Famous Places in the Eastern Capital (Toto Meisho)"
- Date:
- c. 1832/33
- Medium:
- Color woodblock print; oban
- Format:
- Oban
- Source:
- Art Institute of Chicago
Typical Price
- Uncommon subject or exceptional impression: $2,000–$8,000
- Good condition standard print: $500–$2,000
- Later impression or common subject: $200–$600
Description
Surugadai — a hill in the Kanda district of Edo where samurai estates and the famous Edo castle moat created a distinctive elevated townscape — is depicted in this oban from the Famous Places in the Eastern Capital series (c. 1832-33). The view would have emphasized the topographic drama of the hill's edge, with the castle moat below and the distant peak of Mount Fuji visible on clear days across the rooftops. Surugadai's name referenced its angle toward Suruga province (and Fuji), making it a celebrated urban viewpoint.
More Prints by Utagawa Kuniyoshi
Yan Qing (Roshi Ensei), from the series "One Hundred and Eight Heroes of the Popular Water Margin (Tsuzoku Suikoden goketsu hyakuhachinin no hitori)"
Poem by Abe no Nakamaro, from an untitled series of One Hundred Poems by One Hundred Poets
Hu Sanniang (Ko Sanjo Ichijosei), from the series "One Hundred and Eight Heroes of the Popular Water Margin (Tsuzoku Suikoden goketsu hyakuhachinin no hitori)"
Miya, Kuwana, Yokkaichi, and Ishiyakushi, from the series "Famous Places on the Fifty-three Stations of the Tokaido, Four Stations (Tokaido gojusan eki yonshuku meisho)"
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
Surugadai, from the series "Famous Places in the Eastern Capital (Toto Meisho)" was created by Utagawa Kuniyoshi (歌川国芳) in c. 1832/33.
Yes — Surugadai, from the series "Famous Places in the Eastern Capital (Toto Meisho)" is part of the Famous Places in the Eastern Capital (Toto meisho) series by Utagawa Kuniyoshi.
Surugadai, from the series "Famous Places in the Eastern Capital (Toto Meisho)" depicts urban scenes, landscapes, and edo & tokyo.