A Hawk Over the Winter Marshes — Hiroshige's Jūmantsubo Plain at Fukagawa Susaki 🦥

🦥 Today we explore one of the most dramatic and iconic prints from Utagawa Hiroshige's legendary series — a breathtaking winter scene that captures the raw power of nature in Edo-period Tokyo. ❄️

About the Artwork

Created in 1856, this nishiki-e (polychrome woodblock print) is from Hiroshige's celebrated series One Hundred Famous Views of Edo (名所江戸百景 / Meisho Edo Hyakkei). It depicts the vast, snow-covered marshlands of Jūmantsubo Plain at Fukagawa Susaki (深川洲崎十万嵪) — named for its immense area of approximately 100,000 tsubo (about 80 acres) on the eastern outskirts of Edo (present-day Tokyo). 🌨️

At the center of the composition, a hawk plunges toward its prey over the silent, frozen marshes below. Seen from a peculiar and daring bird's-eye angle, the hawk dominates the frame — its powerful form emphasizing the severity of the winter cold and the vast emptiness of the landscape. It is a masterclass in Hiroshige's ability to convey mood, season, and atmosphere in a single image. 🌲

One Hundred Famous Views of Edo

The One Hundred Famous Views of Edo series (1856–58) is widely considered Hiroshige's greatest achievement and one of the pinnacles of ukiyo-e landscape art. Comprising 119 prints across four seasonal volumes, the series documents the landscapes, neighborhoods, and seasonal beauty of Edo — the bustling capital that would become modern Tokyo. Each print is celebrated for its innovative compositions, bold use of color, and poetic sensitivity to nature. 🌸

About the Artist: Utagawa Hiroshige

Utagawa Hiroshige (1797–1858) is one of the most beloved and internationally recognized ukiyo-e artists in history. Born and raised in Edo, he transformed the genre of landscape printmaking with his lyrical, atmospheric style — capturing rain, snow, mist, and moonlight with unparalleled sensitivity. His influence extended far beyond Japan, inspiring Western Impressionist and Post-Impressionist artists including Monet, Van Gogh, and Whistler. 🎭

Explore the Atelier UKIYO Collection

At Atelier UKIYO, we celebrate the timeless beauty of ukiyo-e art through premium art prints inspired by the masters of the Edo period. Bring the serene drama of Hiroshige's winter landscapes into your living space.

🌸 Available as posters, framed prints, apparel, and accessories — explore our collection and find your perfect piece of Japanese art history.