Niijuku Ferry, No. 93 from One Hundred Famous Views of Edo
Utagawa Hiroshige
Asian Art
This print is similar in theme and composition to the view of Kawaguchi Ferry in number 20. Both are views of ferry crossings on major roads leading out of Edo, and as the most distant points in the series for their respective directions (north for Kawaguchi and northeast here), they serve to mark the outer geographical limits of the series as a whole. It is for this reason that both have the look of straightforward topographical prints, important more to fix boundaries than to highlight famous places.
MEDIUM
Woodblock print
DATES
2nd 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
Publisher: Shitaya Uo Ei. Date and censor seal at top margin.
SIGNATURE
Hiroshige-ga
COLLECTIONS
Asian Art
ACCESSION NUMBER
30.1478.93
CREDIT LINE
Gift of Anna Ferris
PROVENANCE
Prior to 1930, provenance not yet documented; by 1930, acquired by Anna Ferris of Summit, NJ; 1930, gift of Anna Ferris to the Brooklyn Museum.
Provenance FAQ
CATALOGUE DESCRIPTION
The Niijuku Ferry crossed the Nakagawa River on the Mito Highway. The local settlement on the Edo side was known as Kameari, and the ferry took its name from the larger and older town of Niijuku on the far side. There is some controversy as to whether Hiroshige has shown the ferry from Kameari (that is, the Edo side looking east) or from Niijuku. Ishii Kendo believed the view was from Niijuku, and Miyao Shigeo favored the Kameari side, where one would have found two restaurants (one on the right and one on the left, not visible here) that were famous for their carp. Shibui Kiyoshi said Hiroshige was following the "edo meisho zue" view, which seems to be the Kameari side. The author supports the Kameari side for the reasons that a cargo-laden boat seen here was more likely headed toward Edo than away from it. Also, Hiroshige had previously shown the Niijuku Ferry in volume VII of his "Ehon Edo Miyage" and the caption there makes it clear that it is from the Kameari side.
EXHIBITIONS
MUSEUM LOCATION
This item is not on view
CAPTION
Utagawa Hiroshige (Japanese, 1797–1858). Niijuku Ferry, No. 93 from One Hundred Famous Views of Edo, 2nd 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, 30.1478.93 (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 30.1478.93_PS20.jpg)
IMAGE
overall, 30.1478.93_PS20.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph, 2023
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RIGHTS STATEMENT
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