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Atagoshita and Yabu Lane, No. 112 from One Hundred Famous Views of Edo

Utagawa Hiroshige

Asian Art

This is the last of four famous snow scenes that feature bright colors against falling snow. In the distance is the district known as Atagoshita, after its location "beneath Mount Atago," the hill rising to the right. The clump of bamboo shown here was an established landmark recognizable to Edo residents. It lay just outside the northeast corner of the mansion of the daimyo of Minakuchi, and served to protect the site from the dangerous northeast, where the Kimon, the "devil's gate," lay. The bamboo gave its name to Yabu ("Thicket") Lane, an alley that ran along the back of the wall of the mansion. Although mentioned in the title, Yabu Lane is out of sight in this view, behind to the right.

MEDIUM Woodblock print
  • Place Made: Japan
  • DATES 12th 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 No publisher's seal visible, probably lost when left margin was trimmed. Seals in top margin: date and censor seals.
    SIGNATURE Hiroshige-ga
    COLLECTIONS Asian Art
    ACCESSION NUMBER 30.1478.112
    CREDIT LINE Gift of Anna Ferris
    CATALOGUE DESCRIPTION In the distance of this view is the district known as Atagoshita; the bright red gate in the background leads to Atago Shrine at the summit of the hill (see also print 21 of this series). The stream in the lower right was a small drainage channel. The branches of bamboo, bending under the weight of the snow, lay just outside the northeast corner of the mansion of Kato, the daimyo of Minakuchi. They were there to protect the mansion from the dangerous northeast, where the Kimon, "devil's gate" was. Today, this site is occupied by a police box in the corner of the Mori Building. The Yabu Lane in the title was an alley that ran along the back wall of the Kato mansion. The small gray building spanning the drainage channel to the right is a guardhouse, while the daimyo mansion was across the street. The title cartouche is printed in a bright pattern, suggesting cut gold leaf.
    MUSEUM LOCATION This item is not on view
    CAPTION Utagawa Hiroshige (Japanese, 1797-1858). Atagoshita and Yabu Lane, No. 112 from One Hundred Famous Views of Edo, 12th 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, 30.1478.112 (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 30.1478.112_PS20.jpg)
    IMAGE overall, 30.1478.112_PS20.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph, 2023
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