Beroemde plekken in de Oostelijke hoofdstad: Genietend van een avondbriesje bij de Ryogoku brug c. 1847 - 1848

Utagawa Hiroshige made this woodblock print, ‘Enjoying an Evening Breeze at Ryogoku Bridge’ in Japan, but its precise date is unknown. This print belongs to a series representing famous places in the Eastern capital. Hiroshige captures a scene of leisure in the city, with a stylish woman in the foreground, the Ryogoku bridge crowded with people, and boats gliding on the river. His work gives us a glimpse into the social life of Edo, now Tokyo, during the Edo period. This era was marked by relative peace and economic growth, leading to the development of a vibrant urban culture. Prints like these catered to a growing middle class with an appetite for images of fashionable life and famous sights. As historians, we can delve deeper into understanding the context of the print by studying Edo-period literature, fashion trends, and the history of woodblock printing as an industry. The image provides valuable insights into the cultural values and social structures of its time.