Kiyochika: Great Fire at Ryogoku (Sold)

Artist: Kobayashi Kiyochika
Title: Great Fire at Ryogoku
Date: 1881

Asakusa Bridge and the Great Fire at Ryogoku (Ryogoku taika asakusabashi). In January of 1881a fire broke out near Ryogoku Bridge in Tokyo, near Kiyochika’s house. He went out to sketch the fire, which later burned his home to the ground. Kiyochika made several prints of this fire and its aftermath, which destroyed over 10,000 buildings in Meiji Tokyo. There are many variations of how the fire is printed in this work. See the de Young Museum website for another variation. Henry smith states that these fire prints were “some of the most dramatic and popular works in the entire Tokyo series”.

Condition: Excellent impression, color and condition. Minor creasing, as typical for these works.
Dimensions: ôban horizontal
Publisher: Fukada Kumajirô
Literature: Online at the deYoung Museum/Legion of Honor.
Signature: Kobayashi Kiyochika hitsu

SKU: KYC102