Boating Parties under Summer Fireworks

Hiroshige's festive river view looks warmer than watching Fourth of July fireworks over San Francisco.

Utagawa Hiroshige (1797-1858), Summer Moon over Ryogoku, from the series Three Views of Famous Places in Edo, 1840-1849. Color woodblock print, 23.7 x 35.7 cm (9 5/16 x 14 1/16 in). Impression in Art Institute of Chicago

Which lights up the night sky, the moonlight or the flashing fireworks? Which pleasure boat would you choose, the ones with conversation around a table with a few good friends, the party boat lined with red paper lanterns, or a smaller one with just you, your love, and a rower? Note the deeper blue ink down the center of the river, that indicates the deeper water. I love the way Hiroshige evokes the sparkle of fireworks with simple red and white, and that we recognize these as fireworks even though they’re from the 1840s!

Happy Fourth of July!