{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O129141"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O129141/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2013GG4760/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2013GG4760/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2013GG4760","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2007BL8827","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O129141/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O129141","accessionNumber":"E.336-1954","objectType":"Painting","titles":[{"title":"Sea Fortifications","type":"generic title"}],"summaryDescription":"As an artist, Utagawa Hiroshige is best known for the ukiyo-e prints and albums he designed. However, many of the artists who designed ukiyo-e prints during the Edo Period (1615-1868) also painted pictures. These paintings were not meant to be used as designs for prints, as these were generally based on much freer sketches. Instead, they were individual works, purchased by a wealthier clientele.\r\n\r\nWorking with ink on silk, Hiroshige uses light strokes to show sea fortifications off the coast of the city of Edo (modern-day Tokyo). \r\n\r\nThe sudden arrival of American 'Black Ships' in Uraga Harbour in 1853 presaged the end of over two hundred years of self-imposed national seclusion. Nervousness about the country's security soon led to the building of sea fortifications in Edo Bay. In this painting, their presence casts an uncertain air over an otherwise peaceful water scene.","physicalDescription":"Painting, ink on silk, with boats at anchor in the mist. Seal of the artist in red on the left.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Utagawa Hiroshige","id":"A7825"},"association":{"text":"Artist","id":"AAT25103"},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"ink","id":"AAT15012"},{"text":"silk","id":"AAT14072"}],"techniques":[{"text":"painting","id":"AAT54216"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Ink on silk","categories":[{"text":"Paintings","id":"THES48917"},{"text":"Landscapes","id":"THES250800"}],"styles":[{"text":"Edo","id":"AAT106643"}],"collectionCode":{"text":"EAS","id":"THES48596"},"images":["2013GG4760","2007BL8827"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"002","id":"THES393939"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Painting","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Japan","id":"x29399"},"association":{"text":"Made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"ca.1853 - ca.1855","earliest":"1848-01-01","latest":"1858-12-31"},"association":{"text":"Made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Given by Mrs Sydney D. Aris ","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"13.8","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"21.5","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"This work was given to the V&A by Sydney Dorothy Aris (1884-1966) who was born in Manra Island in Kiribati, the daughter of John T Arundel (1841-1919) who had various business interests in the Pacific including the mining of guano and phosphates. Arundel and his wife Lillie named their daughter for her place of birth, Manra being known as Sydney Island at the time. It is not known how Mrs Aris acquired her Japanese objects, but in correspondence with the museum she mentions knowing Thomas B Blow who lived in Kyoto from 1906 to at least 1914 and supplied Japanese objects to many collectors in Europe. However, it is quite likely that this work was acquired in Britain or Europe where Japanese paintings and prints were circulating in great numbers by the late 19th-early 20th century. \r\n","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Painting, 'Sea Fortifications', ink on silk, by Ando Hiroshige, Japan, ca.1853-1855","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["E.336-1954"],"accessionNumberNum":"336","accessionNumberPrefix":"E","accessionYear":1954,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-04-16","recordCreationDate":"2006-11-10","availableToBook":true}}