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Picture of People Enjoying the Evening Cool at Ryogoku, from the series Perspective Pictures

Picture of People Enjoying the Evening Cool at Ryogoku, from the series Perspective Pictures

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Not currently on view

Utagawa Toyoharu

Ryogoku Bridge became the most popular amusement center in Edo following its completion in 1661. Large public areas developed on the riverbanks that surrounded the massive wooden structure. Stalls and makeshift tents line the street along the bank of the Sumida River, while tiny figures dot the distant bridge and revelers in summer attire crowd the narrow passage between the rows of shops. Toyoharu’s success in the genre of perspective pictures encouraged many imitators including Katsushika Hokusai (1760–1849), who later created a copy of this composition.
Artist
Utagawa Toyoharu
(Japanese, 1735 - 1814)
Title
Picture of People Enjoying the Evening Cool at Ryogoku, from the series Perspective Pictures
Date
1770-1780
Medium
Color woodcut
Dimensions
246 x 366 mm Overall
Credit
Bequest of John H. Van Vleck
Accession No.
1980.3082
Classification
Prints
Geography
Japan

Related

By 1925, purchased in Japan by Frank Lloyd Wright; ca. 1926, acquired by The Bank of Wisconsin; 1928, sold to Edward Burr Van Vleck (Madison, WI); 1943, passed through inheritance to Edward’s son, John H. Van Vleck (Madison, WI); 9 January 1980, bequeathed by John H. Van Vleck to the Elvehjem Museum of Art [now called Chazen Museum of Art]

  • Mueller, Laura. "Competition and Collaboration: Japanese Prints of the Utagawa School." Leiden, The Netherlands: Hotei Publishing, 2007. p. 57, no. 1
  • Osumi, Takeshige, ed. "Edward Burr Van Vleck Collection Ukiyo-e Masterpieces Exhibition." Tokyo: Bun You Associates, 1999.
  • Chazen Museum of Art. "Bulletin 2003-2007." Madison: Chazen Museum of Art, 2010. p. 19, no. 2
  • Pillen, Cory. "The Ryogoku Bridge in Japanese Ukiyo-e Prints" Bulletin 2003-2007. Chazen Museum of Art (2010): 18-27. pp. 18-27, no. 2

  • Utagawa: Masters of the Japanese Print, 1770-1900 : Chazen Museum of Art, 3/21/2008–6/15/2008
  • Competition and Collaboration: Japanese Prints of the Utagawa School: Chazen Museum of Art, 11/3/2007–1/6/2008
  • Edward Burr Van Vleck Collection: Elvehjem Museum of Art, 10/13/1999–6/30/2000

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