Ukiyo-e print Paying homage to the ephemerality of Japanese nature - Hiroshige's Inaribashi Bridge at Teppōzu

"Inaribashi Bridge and Minato-jinja Shrine at Teppōzu" (original title: 鉄砲洲稲荷橋湊神社) is a woodblock print by the Japanese painter and illustrator Utagawa Hiroshige (1797-1858) produced in February 1857.

In this print, the imposing masts of a cargo ship dominate the foreground, creating a sense of dynamism and movement. This emphasis on maritime elements is characteristic of the "sensationalism" that Hiroshige sought throughout his series. The composition is carefully structured, divided into three vertical bands: the lower section is occupied by the Hatchobori Canal, bustling with the activity of freight and passenger boats, while the middle plane is marked by the curvature of the Inaribashi Bridge.

This bridge, in the center of the image, connects Minato-jinja Shrine on the left side to the white houses of the port warehouses on the right side. This detailed depiction of port activity reflects the economic and commercial importance of Edo during Hiroshige's time. Edo Bay, though shallow, is the focal point of all maritime activity, where ships unload their goods for storage in the sheds along the shore. In the background, the majestic silhouette of Mount Fuji rises, recalling the constant presence of nature in the bustling urban landscape. This juxtaposition of human activity and natural grandeur is a recurring feature of Hiroshige's work.