Shinagawa Susaki - Utagawa Hiroshige

A classic ukiyo-e woodblock print by Utagawa Hiroshige depicting the Susaki peninsula in Shinagawa. This 1856 work features the Benten Shrine, fishing boats on Edo Bay, and a morning sky.

This woodblock print is plate 83 from the series One Hundred Famous Views of Edo. It depicts the coastal district of Shinagawa, which was the first station on the Tokaido road. The composition focuses on the Susaki peninsula, where a small shrine dedicated to Benten sits among pine trees.

In the foreground, Hiroshige includes the rooftops of local teahouses and a steep wooden bridge. Small figures cross the bridge, providing a sense of scale to the coastal scene. The middle ground is dominated by the calm waters of Edo Bay. Numerous white sails of fishing boats are positioned at varying distances to create a sense of depth.

The artist employs the bokashi technique to create smooth colour transitions. A dark blue band at the top of the sky fades into a pale cream, while a thin strip of red along the horizon indicates the early morning light. A line of birds flies across the upper portion of the image. The water also features subtle gradations of blue, reflecting the wood grain of the original printing blocks.

Shinagawa was a popular destination for leisure and travel during the Edo period. This print captures the topographical features of the area before modern land reclamation changed the coastline. The work is a standard example of Hiroshige's late style, characterised by vertical compositions and clear spatial divisions.