Utagawa Hiroshige (Japanese, 1797-1858). <em>Gotenyama, Shinagawa, No. 28 in One Hundred Famous Views of Edo</em>, 4th month of 1856. Woodblock print, Image: 13 11/16 x 9 in. (34.8 x 22.9 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Anna Ferris, 30.1478.28 (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 30.1478.28_PS20.jpg)

Gotenyama, Shinagawa, No. 28 in One Hundred Famous Views of Edo

Artist:Utagawa Hiroshige

Medium: Woodblock print

Geograhical Locations:

Dates:4th month of 1856

Dimensions: Image: 13 11/16 x 9 in. (34.8 x 22.9 cm) Sheet: 14 3/8 x 9 1/4 in. (36.5 x 23.5 cm)

Collections:

Exhibitions:

Accession Number: 30.1478.28

Image: 30.1478.28_PS20.jpg,

Catalogue Description:
View of Gotenyama (Palace Hill) in Shinagawa, gateway to the city of Edo, one of the city's most popular flower-viewing sites. In "Ehon Edo Miyage" (vol. VII), Hiroshige explains that huge quantities of earth had been dug away from the hill in order to build the Odaiba, the eight small island fortresses constructed in Edo Bay off Shinagawa in 1853-1854, following the arrival of Admiral Perry's warships. One of the Odaiba was attached to the land near Gotenyama (see pls. 81, 83, and 108). This print is unique for it not only shows the beauty of the traditional Edo ranges above but the ravages of destruction below, as shown by the group of people making their way through the muddy swamp left by the construction efforts. In 1870-1871 the hill was again under construction for Japan's first railroad and its earth was moved into the sea to provide railway embankment.

Brooklyn Museum