Hiroshige: Station Akasaka, number 37 (Sold)

Artist: Utagawa Hiroshige
Title: Station Akasaka, number 37
Series: “Fifty-three Parallels for the Tôkaidô Road” (Tôkaidô gojûsan tsui)
Date: ca. 1845

Prime Minister Moronaga, in exile in Owari Province in the 12th century, was famous for his skill as a musician. The cartouche explains the story clearly: A long time ago, Moronaga sat down on a rock and played his biwa while gazing at the autumn leaves. A beautiful woman appeared and sang a song to his tune. She told him that she is the Water Deity of the mountain and was overwhelmed by the excellence of his music. Then she disappeared. There is charming continuity between the cartouche above, with the maple branch against a full moon casting maple leaves into the scene below. The beauty who gazes at Moronaga has a flowing water pattern on her kimono (a key to her identity) and long tresses that blow in the autumn breeze.

Condition: Excellent impression and color. Very good condition. Repaired wormage near margin.
Dimensions: ôban
Publisher: Ibaya Senzaburô
Literature: See Tôkaidô Texts and Tales, edited by Andreas Marks, page 116.
Signature: Hiroshige ga

SKU: HIR438