DISCOVERART

Utagawa Hiroshige

The Whirlpools of Awa

1857
Triptych of color woodblock prints

SEE IT IN PERSON

Not currently on view

In the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland · as of July 2026

View at clevelandart.org ↗Plan a visit ↗

Discussion

FROM THE CLEVELAND MUSEUM OF ART’S CATALOG

Late in his career, Hiroshige explored the poetic theme of setsugekka , “snow, moon, and flowers,” in a set of three triptychs. The swirling whirlpools at Awa would remind the viewer of flowers.

Source ↗

Be the first to share your thoughts.

Sign in to join the discussion.

Community guidelines

More by Utagawa Hiroshige

歌川広重画 「東海道五十三次　大尾　京師　三条大橋」|Kyoto: The Great Bridge at Sanjō (Taibi, Keishi, Sanjō Ōhashi), from the series Fifty-Three Stations of the Tōkaidō (Tōkaidō gojūsan tsugi)歌川広重画 「東海道五十三次　大尾　京師　三条大橋」|Kyoto: The Great Bridge at Sanjō Opening of the Garden at Fukagawa Hachiman Shrine (Fukagawa Hachiman yamabiraki), from the series "One Hundred Famous Views of Edo (Meisho Edo hyakkei)"Opening of the Garden at Fukagawa Hachiman Shrine (Fukagawa 東海道五十三次之内　阪之下　筆捨嶺|Saka-no-shita, Fude-sute Mine東海道五十三次之内　阪之下　筆捨嶺|Saka-no-shita, Fude-sute MineKumano Junisha Shrine in Tsunohazu, Popularly Known as Juniso (Tsunohazu Kumano Junisha, zokusho Juniso), from the series "One Hundred Famous Views of Edo (Meisho Edo hyakkei)"Kumano Junisha Shrine in Tsunohazu, Popularly Known as JunisGotenyama no yu-zakura|東都名所　御殿山之夕桜|Evening Cherry Blossoms at GotenyamaGotenyama no yu-zakura|東都名所　御殿山之夕桜|Evening Cherry Blossoms aSakanoshita: Peak of Fudesute Mountain (Sakanoshita, Fudesute mine), from the series "Fifty-three Stations of the Tokaido (Tokaido gojusan tsugi no uchi)," also known as the Hoeido TokaidoSakanoshita: Peak of Fudesute Mountain (Sakanoshita, FudesutMaisaka: View of Imagiri (Maisaka, Imagiri shinkei), from the series "Fifty-three Stations of the Tokaido (Tokaido gojusan tsugi no uchi)," also known as the Hoeido TokaidoMaisaka: View of Imagiri (Maisaka, Imagiri shinkei), from thInume Pass in Kai Province (Kai Inume toge), from the series "Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji (Fuji sanjurokkei)"Inume Pass in Kai Province (Kai Inume toge), from the series

More like this

雪月花　阿波鳴門之風景|Rapids at NarutoUtagawa Hiroshige — 雪月花　阿波鳴門之風景|Rapids at NarutoThe Whirlpools in Naruto Strait, Awa Province (Awa Naruto no fukei)Utagawa Hiroshige — The Whirlpools in Naruto Strait, Awa ProAwa no Naruto|雪月花　阿波鳴門之風景|The Whirlpools of AwaUtagawa Hiroshige — Awa no Naruto|雪月花　阿波鳴門之風景|The WhirlpoolsAutumnal Sky at Choko (Choko shusei), from the series "Eight Views of the Ryukyu Islands (Ryukyu hakkei)"Katsushika Hokusai — Autumnal Sky at Choko (Choko shusei), fThe Sea off Satta in Suruga Province (Suruga Satta no kaijo), from the series "Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji (Fuji sanjurokkei)"Utagawa Hiroshige — The Sea off Satta in Suruga Province (SuThe Cave at Enoshima in Sagami Province (Soshu Enoshima iwaya no zu), from the series "Famous Places of Japan (Honcho meisho)"Utagawa Hiroshige — The Cave at Enoshima in Sagami Province Totomi Province: The Narrow Inlet of Inasa near Kanzan Temple on Hamana Lake at Horie (Totomi, Hamana no umi, Horie Kanzanji, Inasa no hosoe), from the series "Famous Places in the Sixty-odd Provinces (Rokujuyoshu meisho zue)"Utagawa Hiroshige — Totomi Province: The Narrow Inlet of InaThe Sea off Satta in Suruga Province (Suruga Satta no kaijo), from the series "Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji (Fuji sanjurokkei)"Utagawa Hiroshige — The Sea off Satta in Suruga Province (SuThe Sea off Satta in Suruga Province (Suruga Satta kaijo), from the series "Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji (Fuji sanjurokkei)"Utagawa Hiroshige — The Sea off Satta in Suruga Province (Su冨嶽三十六景　相州江の島|Enoshima in Sagami Province (Sōshū Enoshima), from the series Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji (Fugaku sanjūrokkei)Katsushika Hokusai — 冨嶽三十六景　相州江の島|Enoshima in Sagami ProvincKarasaki no Yau|近江八景の内　唐崎夜雨|Evening Rain at Karasaki, Pine TreeUtagawa Hiroshige — Karasaki no Yau|近江八景の内　唐崎夜雨|Evening RainThe Sound of the Lake at Rinkai (Rinkai kosei), from the series "Eight Views of the Ryukyu Islands (Ryukyu hakkei)"Katsushika Hokusai — The Sound of the Lake at Rinkai (Rinkai