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Utagawa Hiroshige – Golden Pheasant and Pine Shoots in Snow

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SKU: MLS2021286 Categories: , Tags: ,

This is a later recarving of a woodblock created by Utagawa Hiroshige I around 1830, most likely printed in the 1910-1930 range. This recarving is exceptionally true to the original, with only the additional publisher and carver information tactfully included in the left margin.

The Woodblock Print

This o-hosabon sized woodblock print is in good to very good condition. Strong colors, intact margins, and a clean verso. The issues that bring the rating down on this print are a few small foxing marks on the open space (middle left), edge wear on the right margin, and a small tear in the left margin that is confined to the margin (does not extend into the print itself).

About the Artist

Born in Edo as Tokutaro Ando, Hiroshige grew up in a minor samurai family. His father belonged to the firefighting force assigned to Edo Castle. It is here that Hiroshige was given his first exposure to art: legend has it that a fellow fireman tutored him in the Kano school of painting, though Hiroshige’s first official teacher was Rinsai. Though Hiroshige tried to join Utagawa Toyokuni’s studio, he was turned away. In 1811, young Hiroshige entered an apprenticeship with the celebrated Utagawa Toyohiro. After only a year, he was bestowed with the artist name Hiroshige. He soon gave up his role in the fire department to focus entirely on painting and print design. During this time he studied painting, intrigued by the Shijo school. Hiroshige’s artistic genius went largely unnoticed until 1832.

In Hiroshige’s groundbreaking series of woodblock prints, The 53 Stations of the Tokaido (1832-1833), Hiroshige captured the journey along the Tokaido road, the highway connecting Edo to Kyoto, the imperial capital. With the Tokugawa Shogunate relaxing centuries of age-old restrictions on travel, urban populations embraced travel art and Hiroshige became one of the most prominent and successful ukiyo-e artists. He also produced kacho-e (bird-and-flower pictures) to enormous success. In 1858, at the age of 61, he passed away as a result of the Edo cholera epidemic.

Hiroshige’s prints continue to convey the beauty of Japan and provide insight into the everyday life of its citizens. The appeal of his tender, lyrical landscapes was not restricted to the Japanese audience. Hiroshige’s work had a profound influence on the Impressionists and Post-Impressionists of Europe: Toulouse-Lautrec was fascinated with Hiroshige’s daring diagonal compositions and inventive use of perspective, Van Gogh literally copied two prints from Hiroshige’s famed series, 100 Famous Views of Edo in oil paint.

Artist

Hiroshige, Utagawa (Andō)

Condition

(A) Very Fine Condition, (B) Fine Condition

Date

1910s-1930s

Edition

Reprint

Movement

Ukiyo-e

Size

O-hosoban (6.75"x15")

Subjects

Birds / Beasts, Plants & Flowers

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