Back to gallery
Twenty Views of Tokyo: Takinogawa, 1929

Art Appreciation

This evocative woodblock print invites the viewer into a tranquil evening along a quiet riverbank, where a slender crescent moon hangs delicately against a deepening blue sky. A simple wooden bridge crosses the gently flowing water, beneath which the river reflects the soft, golden windows of nearby buildings and the moon’s faint glow. Dominating the composition is a large, richly textured tree whose dense foliage is rendered in deep, overlapping shades of green and indigo, creating a feeling of shelter and peacefulness. A solitary figure walks across the bridge, adding a quiet human presence that suggests a serene moment of reflection amidst the encompassing stillness.

The artist’s mastery of ukiyo-e techniques is evident in the subtle gradations of color, known as bokashi, that transition from dark shadows beneath the bridge to the luminous sky above. The composition balances simplicity with intricate detail: the repeated wooden railings and calm water surface punctuated by shimmering reflections create rhythmic harmony, while the soft contours of the foliage contrast with the crisp geometric lines of the bridge. Emotionally, the scene evokes a sense of calm and contemplation, inviting us to pause and absorb the gentle beauty of twilight. Created in 1929, this piece belongs to a late phase of ukiyo-e where traditional methods blend with modern sensibilities, making it a poignant homage to the enduring tranquility found in everyday landscapes.

Twenty Views of Tokyo: Takinogawa, 1929

Hasui Kawase

Category:

Created:

1929

Likes:

0

Dimensions:

4399 × 6474 px

Download:

Related artworks

Twenty Views of Tokyo: Senkoku Pond
Funabori Kurito 1932
Matsuyama Castle's Gate With No Door
Pagoda of Ikegami Honmon-ji, 1928
Tokyo Twelve Views: Snowy White Beard
Fujiya Hotel, Miyamashita, Hakone
Travel Diary I (Travel Souvenirs First Collection) Sendai Yamadera 1919
Under the Fields of Shiobara
Yakumo Bridge at the Nagata Shrine, Kobe
Evening Moonlight at the Temple
Travel Notes I (First Collection of Travel Souvenirs) Lake Towada Senjōmaku 1919
Izu Ito Shogetsuin 1933
Nikko Futatsudo 1928
Cool Pavilion by the Pine Pond