Cherry Blossoms at Night on Naka-no-chō in the Yoshiwara by Utagawa Hiroshige

Cherry Blossoms at Night on Naka-no-chō in the Yoshiwara c. 1832 - 1838

print, ink, color-on-paper

water colours

print

japan

mural art

handmade artwork painting

paste-up

ink

color-on-paper

street graffiti

painting painterly

wall painting

watercolour bleed

watercolour illustration

watercolor

"Cherry Blossoms at Night on Naka-no-chō in the Yoshiwara" is a woodblock print by Utagawa Hiroshige, depicting a scene of the Yoshiwara, Tokyo's licensed pleasure district, in springtime. Created between 1832 and 1838, the print showcases the beauty of cherry blossoms illuminated by a full moon, a scene commonly depicted in Japanese ukiyo-e art. The use of vibrant colors and detailed lines evokes a sense of serenity and delicate beauty, capturing the essence of a peaceful night in the Yoshiwara. The bustling crowd and lanterns in the foreground create a sense of life and activity, contrasting with the tranquility of the moonlit blossoms. This work exemplifies Hiroshige's mastery of landscape and urban scenes, capturing the ephemeral beauty of nature within a dynamic social context.

Comments

minneapolisinstituteofart about 1 year ago

⋮

Along with the fish market at Nihonbashi and the Kabuki theater district, the Yoshiwara licensed pleasure quarter was one of the busiest areas in Edo. This print depicts the Yoshiwara's main street after sunset, when business began to pick-up. Flowering cherry trees line the roadway. Such trees were transplanted to the area just as they came into bloom-thus providing a beautiful atmosphere, especially by lantern light. Cherry blossom viewing at night in Yoshiwara was, in fact, an annual event organized by the area's proprietors to attract visitors and boost business. Here, Hiroshige depicted people who might be encountered during a typical night in cherry-blossom season. There is oiran, a high-ranking prostitute wearing an orange gown, accompanied by her attendants. A man in a black haori coat is shown eyeing her appraisingly over his shoulder. Yet another prostitute (in a blue gown) and her attendants approach from the right.