Title : Sanjö Öhashi in Kyoto (Station #55)

Artist : Utagawa Hiroshige

Date : c. 1833 - 1834

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Source : Honolulu Museum of Art
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Description : This print depicts a common theme in Hiroshige’s work of bridges and water, and presents a bird’s-eye view of the bridge over the Sanjö-döri in Kyoto. Kyoto was the final stop on the Tökaidö Road. Travelers were welcomed by the scenic beauty of the ancient city and enjoyed looking at both the city and its elegantly-attired inhabitants. The mountain view from the bridge has long been a famous Kyoto location. The green mountain is Mount Kiyomizu, on which Kiyomizu Temple is located. It is visible here as a cluster of rooftops nestled in the middle of the mountain’s foothills. Mount Hiei, the brown mountain located in the back, is a border between Kyoto and Shiga prefecture. A crisp impression with virtually unfaded color, the print suffered from a previous mounting in an album. The mounter trimmed the sheet, and folded it down the center, as was the common practice. Fortunately, the strong vertical creases could be relaxed by humidification and flattening. Washi is very forgiving, made of long-fibered közo, without additives or optical brighteners. It accepts humidity and allows the previous damage to recede, thus, the overall appearance was improved by surface-cleaning. Archival washi hinges were adhered to the verso with wheat starch paste, pressed, and attached to museum-board for matting and framing. (from Washi in the Floating World exhibition 10/18/2004-)

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