Nihonbashi in Edo (Edo Nihonbashi), from the series Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji (Fugaku sanjūrokkei)

Nihonbashi in Edo (Edo Nihonbashi), from the series Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji (Fugaku sanjūrokkei)

Katsushika Hokusai

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

Views of the central district of old Edo such as this are frequently characterized by three motifs: the arc of Nihonbashi (literally, "Bridge of Japan") together with the tiered roofs of Edo Castle and the distant Mt. Fuji. In addition to being the first stage of the Tōkaidō, Nihonbashi's distinctive form and prominent location earned it the importance of a symbol of the capital city. In this composition, Hokusai's radical cropping of the foreground bridge has the effect of thrusting the viewer directly into the bustling crowds of townsmen.

Asian Art

An exhibit at Metropolitan Museum of Art

Nihonbashi in Edo (Edo Nihonbashi), from the series Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji (Fugaku sanjūrokkei)Nihonbashi in Edo (Edo Nihonbashi), from the series Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji (Fugaku sanjūrokkei)Nihonbashi in Edo (Edo Nihonbashi), from the series Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji (Fugaku sanjūrokkei)Nihonbashi in Edo (Edo Nihonbashi), from the series Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji (Fugaku sanjūrokkei)Nihonbashi in Edo (Edo Nihonbashi), from the series Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji (Fugaku sanjūrokkei)

The Met's collection of Asian art—more than 35,000 objects, ranging in date from the third millennium B.C. to the twenty-first century—is one of the largest and most comprehensive in the world. Each of the many civilizations of Asia is represented by outstanding works, providing an unrivaled experience of the artistic traditions of nearly half the world.