Kiyochika 小林: Snow at Ryogoku 両国雪中 (Sold)

Artist: Kobayashi Kiyochika 小林清親 (1847-1915)

Title: Snow at Ryôgoku 両国雪中  Date: 1877

Fascinating evening street scene in snowy Ryôgoku. We feel the alienation brought about by westernization creeping in, as every person is depicted with a sense of resigned isolation about them. Although the street is busy, everyone seems quite lonely. Every face is obscured or turned away; the one person’s visage that we glimpse has a face of almost sad resignation. The figure in the foreground is obscured by their umbrella, their back to us. We note the strong influences of western engraving as well, with subtle areas of crosshatching and chiaroscuro in addition to the single vanishing point . We also do not see the outlines of the road at the broad clearing of Ryogoku Hirokoji, also giving the feeling of groundlessness. The lamp at left has not yet been lit, and telegraph poles and streetlights are prominent aspects of the design. At right is a signboard for a pharmacy, Gogenen. The earliest versions of this print, as here, lack the title and signature in the bottom margin that come to be added later. The ordinance requiring the publisher’s information and publication date to be included on all woodblock prints was issued in 1876. This is one of the artist’s earliest designs of this celebrated scenes of Tokyo.

Condition: Excellent impression, color and condition. In exceptional condition, with large, clean margins, and no center fold.  Dimensions: ôban (25.4 x 37.5 cm)
Publisher: Matsuki Heikichi 松木平 Signature: Unsigned, as usual in the first edition

SKU: KYC500