Double Sword Stone at Bōnoura Beach by Utagawa Hiroshige

Double Sword Stone at Bōnoura Beach Possibly 1856

print, ink, color-on-paper

toned paper

water colours

print

japan

handmade artwork painting

ink

fluid art

color-on-paper

coloured pencil

naive art

watercolour bleed

watercolour illustration

watercolor

watercolur painting

"Double Sword Stone at Bōnoura Beach" is a woodblock print created by Utagawa Hiroshige, a prominent Japanese artist of the Edo period, sometime around 1856. The print depicts a picturesque scene of Bōnoura Beach, featuring two towering rock formations, known as the "Double Sword Stone," that rise dramatically from the sea. The scene is captured at sunset, with a soft, pink hue illuminating the sky. The print showcases Hiroshige's mastery of the ukiyo-e style, with delicate lines and vibrant colors used to depict the natural beauty of the landscape. This print, now housed at the Minneapolis Institute of Art, provides a glimpse into the artistic sensibilities of Edo-period Japan and Hiroshige’s exceptional skill in capturing the essence of the natural world.

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minneapolisinstituteofart about 1 year ago

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Located in southwest Kyñshñ, the southern most of the Japan's four main islands, Bønoura Beach faces the East China Sea. Towering rock formations, named "double sword stones," are a popular destination among visitors to the area. In the foreground, Hiroshige depicts a small boat approaching the rocks with two tourists on board. Seated beneath a parasol, they gazed admiringly up at the fantastic sight. Although Hiroshige exaggerated the rocks a bit, he well represented the scenic beauty of the area.