The Plum Garden in Kameido, by Hiroshige

    The Plum Garden in Kameido is a woodblock printed as part of the series One Hundred Famous Views of Edo by the Japanese master, Utagawa Hiroshige ( 1797-1858).  This series was created and first published in 1857, the last series created by Hiroshige before his death.  Hiroshige was part and most successful of the artists of the ukiyo-e school which created woodblock prints for wide scale production and distribution.   They were extremely popular, particularly in Europe with the Impressionists and Post-Impressionists, who collected them, studied them, and some created their own version.   This particular work, The Plum Garden in Kameido was copied by Vincent Van Gogh in 1887.  Van Gogh's version can be seen at the Van Gogh Museum  in Amsterdam.
     Anyone who has ever attempted a woodblock print, must be completely amazed by this image. The technical skill involved with the gradation of the red/pink is amazing, and it is one of the many strengths of Hiroshige.  But the most amazing part of this work is our vantage point!  Where are we, in a tree?  By looking closely we can pretty much determine the season of the year and the time of day.....tree blossoms in the spring, light at the horizon at dusk!
    But here, at the horizon the story Hiroshige tells is completed.  Here are people lined up behind a fence, with a portion of a building to the right.   This is probably a specific place in Japan and a great artist has provides us with an very unusual view of it.  BEAUTIFUL.
   Make Art a part of your life,  its a wonderful thing to do.

Comments

  1. charguthOctober 25, 2019 at 5:52 PM

    This must take amazing skill and patience. Yes, the vantage point is really unique and it makes a very interesting composition. I wonder who these people are and why they are lining up. The building on the right may be the answer. They appear to be standing around casually, so I assume it's a joyous event. Wood block printing is so precise; the colors and gradations are beautiful in this landscape. I must check Van Gogh's version. Lovely.

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  2. Art Expert On LineOctober 30, 2019 at 6:56 AM

    A recent email informed me that the viewer wasn't to keen on this particular image. No particular reason was given, but he did say he appreciated seeing other expressions of art. It could be the colors used here, as they are a little difficult. We can't be absolutely positive these colors are exactly true to the original, but should be close. Anyway, super thanks for commenting. I love to hear opinions!

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