Kuniyoshi: Hara, Yoshiwara and Kambara Stations on the Tokaido 原、吉原、蒲原

Artist: Utagawa Kuniyoshi (1798-1861)
Title: Hara, Yoshiwara and Kambara Stations 原、吉原、蒲原 Together on the Tokaido
Series: Gojusan-eki san shuku meisho 東海道五十三駅三宿名所 (Famous Places at Three of the Fifty-Three Stations)  Date: ca 1834-35

Combined view of Hara, Yoshiwara and Kambara Stations on the Tokaido. A few travelers are shown in the foreground as they make their way along the Tokaido Road, walking in the direction of Mount Fuji. This is a condensed view, as Kuniyoshi has adjusted the formula of showing one print per station and has combined the views of three of the stations in a design that also has maplike elements to it. The small, floating cartouches in pink are indicating various place names in the landscape. In the foreground we see a softly bending pine, and in the distance rises Mount Fuji, with glowing orange on the left flank and a deep red sky above. In this scarce series we can guess that Kuniyoshi wanted to prove something to Hiroshige in terms of his own landscape dexterity. This series was thought to have been created about 1834-35 in response to the immense success of Hiroshige’s Hoeido Tokaido, which was published ca. 1833-34. There are twelve works in this series, and Kuniyoshi combined between three and five stations in each print. Two publishers jointly published the series, and we see the publisher’s seals for both houses in the right margin.

Condition: Excellent/very good impression and color. Very good condition. Areas of minor repair.

Dimensions: ôban 25.5 x 37.3 cm
Publisher: Tsuruya Kiemon and Tsutaya Kichizô
Literature: Robinson 1961, number 10. British Museum, MET, MFA Boston, FAMSF, Honolulu Museum of Art collections. Signature: Ichiyûsai Kuniyoshi shukuzu

SKU: KUY648