Evening Snow at Asakusa, from the series Eight Views of Famous Places in Edo

Evening Snow at Asakusa, from the series Eight Views of Famous Places in Edo

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Utagawa Hiroshige

The classical Chinese model of “eight views” was widely parodied by print designers during the Edo period. Traditionally associated with scenic beauty, later designs also depicted the Yoshiwara pleasure quarters and beautiful women. Evening Snow at Asakusa alludes to Evening Snow at Mt. Hira from the eight views of Omi. Hiroshige depicts three beauties holding umbrellas on a snowy night. The left two figures with their indigo-dyed, padded kimono have scarves covering their heads and tabi socks on their feet. The subdued costume distinguishes them from the more ostentatiously dressed courtesan on the right with bare feet. The two women are most likely wives of wealthy merchants. The background landscape includes the main hall and five-storied pagoda of Asakusa temple and the Azuma Bridge spanning the Sumida River.
Artist
Utagawa Hiroshige
(Japanese, 1797 - 1858)
Title
Evening Snow at Asakusa, from the series Eight Views of Famous Places in Edo
Date
ca. 1845
Medium
Color woodcut
Dimensions
250 x 373 mm Overall
Credit
Bequest of John H. Van Vleck
Accession No.
1980.2208a-b
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. 118, no. 85
  • Hitachi, Ltd. "Ukiyoe" [calendar]. Japan: Hitachi, Ltd., 2009. cover

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