Night View of Saruwaka-machi, 1856, 9th month
Woodblock print (nishiki-e); ink and color on paperexpand_more
The Margaret McMillan Webber Estateexpand_more 51.40.26
Not on Viewexpand_more
After the fire of 1841, a new theater district was established to the northeast of Asakusa Kannon Temple known as Saruwaka Street, after Saruwaka Kanzaburo, the founder of the first Kabuki theater in Edo over 200 years earlier. In this print, Hiroshige illustrates three theaters on the west (right) side of the street, identified by the boxed turrets that project above the eaves of the buildings. Tea houses and puppet theaters are located on the east (left) side of the street.
Hiroshige's dramatic use of Western one-point vanishing perspective for this print is unique among the 118 prints of the series. The relative darkness of the Kabuki theaters suggests that the season has not yet begun. This, together with the shadows of the people cast by the moonlight, give the print a hauntingly quiet impression, quite at odds with the typical bustling atmosphere associated with Saruwaka Street.
Details
- Title
- Night View of Saruwaka-machi
- Artist Life
- 1797 - 1858
- Role
- Artist
- Accession Number
- 51.40.26
- Catalogue Raisonne
- Ukiyo-e shūka 14 (1981), Hiroshige list, p. 250, vertical ōban #62.46
- Curator Approved
This record has been reviewed by our curatorial staff but may be incomplete. These records are frequently revised and enhanced. If you notice a mistake or have additional information about this object, please email collectionsdata@artsmia.org.
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