Sunrise at Kanda Myōjin Shrine, by Utagawa Hiroshige

Sunrise at Kanda Myōjin Shrine, by Utagawa Hiroshige

Sunrise at Kanda Myōjin Shrine

One of the works of the “One Hundred Famous Views of Edo ” series, by  Utagawa Hiroshige (1797-1858). 

This scene depicts the precincts of Kanda Myojin Shrine enshrined with Onamuchi no Mikoto and Taira no Masakado. Hiroshige depicted the priest and shrine maiden looking at the eastern sky and waiting for the sunrise. Shine in the morning sky, the trunk of a cedar tree is framed in red. The entire precinct of the shrine is not drawn, but only a part of the vermilion-lacquered main building can be seen on the right. There are no visitors yet and the solemnity of the shrine surrounded by silence is beautifully expressed. The gradation of green and light ink emphasizes the dust-free ground. These expressions provide solemn silence in the early morning.

Title: Sunrise at Kanda Myōjin Shrine

Author: Utagawa Hiroshige

Year: 1857

Size: 35.7cm×24.7cm

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