Traditional print immortalizing the fragile beauty of Japanese nature - Senju Grand Bridge by Hiroshige

"Grand Bridge at Senju" (original title: 千住の大はし) is a woodblock print by the Japanese painter and illustrator Utagawa Hiroshige (1797-1858) produced in February 1856.

This print, dated according to the censor's seal, is one of the first in the series and appears to demarcate the northern boundary of Edo, perhaps the artist's intention to define the territory of his enterprise. The great Senju Bridge, which crosses the Arakawa River on the road to Ōshū Kaidō, was erected in 1594 by Tokugawa Ieyasu. This bridge was often used by the shogun during his pilgrimages to Nikkō, where the tomb of Ieyasu, founder of the dynasty, is located. The print highlights the solid structure of the bridge, which has withstood numerous disasters over time. Several travelers are seen crossing paths, including a horseman heading towards a palanquin. Beyond the bridge, to the left, lies a fishing village, while the river is bustling with cargo boats and wooden rafts. The background of the image offers a synthesis of Hiroshige's art, with its mountains shrouded in mist under a sky illuminated by the reddish light of the setting sun.