The artwork, titled “116. Sugatami Bridge, Omokage Bridge and Jariba at Takata,” is a woodblock print created by the renowned artist Hiroshige in 1857. This piece is a part of the Ukiyo-e art movement and belongs to the genre of landscape. It is one of the prints from the series “One Hundred Famous Views of Edo.”
In the artwork, Hiroshige masterfully captures a picturesque view of two bridges—Sugatami Bridge and Omokage Bridge—set against the serene backdrop of vibrant fields and distant mountains. The composition is meticulously balanced, with the bridges’ curves and the fields’ horizontal lines leading the viewer’s eye through the scene. The use of vivid colors and attention to detail exemplifies the artist’s skill in woodblock printing, creating a dynamic interplay between nature and human activity. Small figures of people crossing the bridges add a narrative element, evoking the everyday life and leisurely atmosphere of Edo-period Japan. The artwork is both a visual delight and a cultural artifact, providing insight into the historical and aesthetic sensibilities of the time.
