Hiroshige
Is it a proper time to show blossoming trees?
The print we present today is from the famous One Hundred Famous Views of Edo series. It consists of 119 ukiyo-e prints begun and largely completed by the Japanese artist Hiroshige, of Edo (the historical name for Tokyo). The prints were first published in serialized form from 1856 through 1859, with Hiroshige II completing the series after Hiroshige's death.
Kiyomizu Hall in Ueno Park, depicted on the print we present today, was established in 1631 as part of a grand effort to create a major Buddhist temple complex in Edo and to offer spiritual protection from the northeast, a direction traditionally believed to be the source of harmful spirits. The hall became famous for its surrounding cherry blossoms and scenic outlook. Yet even in Hiroshige’s time, the real view was more modest than this print implies. By widening the temple’s veranda and portraying the pine trees as unusually tall, the artist enhanced the sense of scale and grandeur, creating a more dramatic and idealized landscape.
If you’d like to keep a touch of this serene atmosphere close at hand, our Japanese Art 50 Postcards Set feature exquisite details from Edo-period prints—perfect for sending or collecting.
P.S. Explore the beauty of Japanese cherry blossom art!