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Inari Bridge and Minato Shrine, Teppozu, No. 77 from One Hundred Famous Views of Edo

Utagawa Hiroshige

Asian Art

This particular place near Minato Shrine (half-hidden behind the red fence) was a critical junction in the waterways of Edo. It marked the point where large ships from western Japan were anchored and their cargoes transferred into small lighters, or flat-bottomed barges, for distribution to the many storehouses that lined the city's canals. Hiroshige detailed the masts of two cargo ships in the foreground to frame the background view of lighters heading into the canal beyond Imari Bridge. This system, dictated by the shallow waters of Edo Bay, meant that there were none of the piers that are commonly used in Western cities for unloading large ships.

MEDIUM Woodblock print
  • Place Made: Japan
  • DATES 2nd month of 1857
    PERIOD Edo Period, Ansei Era
    DIMENSIONS Sheet: 14 3/16 x 9 1/4 in. (36 x 23.5 cm) Image: 13 3/8 x 8 3/4 in. (34 x 22.2 cm)  (show scale)
    MARKINGS Publisher: Shitaya Uo Ei
    SIGNATURE Hiroshige-ga
    COLLECTIONS Asian Art
    ACCESSION NUMBER 30.1478.77
    CREDIT LINE Gift of Anna Ferris
    CATALOGUE DESCRIPTION This particular place, where the Kyobashi River entered Hatchobori (Eight-Cho Canal) was where the large ships from western Japan were anchored and their cargoes were transformed into small lighters for distribution to the quays and storehouses that lined the canals. In the foreground are the masts of two cargo ships and in the background are the lighters heading into the warehouse-lined canal. The Minato (Harbor) Inari Shrine lies half-hidden at the left behind a red fence and was one of the oldest shrines in Edo. It survives today as well as Inari Bridge. Blue "bokashi" covers much of the sky and there is overprinting on the foreground masts. In the center there is a narrow strip of blue "bokashi" on the water.
    MUSEUM LOCATION This item is not on view
    CAPTION Utagawa Hiroshige (Japanese, 1797-1858). Inari Bridge and Minato Shrine, Teppozu, No. 77 from One Hundred Famous Views of Edo, 2nd month of 1857. Woodblock print, Sheet: 14 3/16 x 9 1/4 in. (36 x 23.5 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Anna Ferris, 30.1478.77 (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 30.1478.77_PS20.jpg)
    IMAGE overall, 30.1478.77_PS20.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph, 2023
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