Takahashi Hiroaki (Shotei) 高橋松亭 弘明: Saruhashi Bridge, Koshu 甲州さるはし (SOLD)

Artist: Takahashi Hiroaki (Shotei) (1871-1945)
Title:  Saruhashi Bridge, Koshu 甲州さるはし
Date: 1931

The fantastically scenic and historically important Monkey Bridge (Saruhashi) is shown in the midst of falling snow, which blankets the scene in an added layer of beauty. Made internationally famous by its depictions by Hokusai and Hiroshige, this view in snow with the unusual format captures the strong verticality of the gorge and is considered one of Hiroaki’s masterpieces. Our view encompasses a vertical panorama, all the way from the sky filled with snowflakes at top to the flowing water of the Katsura River at the bottom. Beyond the bridge are seen a few traditional structures, with several figures also depicted nearby to give scale and bright pops of color. Saruhashi was designated a Place of Scenic Beauty by the Japanese government in 1932.  With the title and signature at right, Koshu, Saruhashi, Hiroaki, followed by red artist's seal  and dated along bottom margin, “Showa rokunen junigatsu saku Hiroaki jiga jikoku (Showa 6 [1931], 12th month, self-designed and self-carved by Hiroaki”, with publisher's seal at lower left margin, Hanyen shoyu Fusui Gabo hakko (copyright owned by Fusui Gabo Company), 1931. The “self-carved” portion of the signature probably means that the artist was strongly involved in overseeing closely the carving and printing of the work. First and only edition.

Condition: Excellent impression, color and condition. 
Dimensions: 53.5 x 23.5 cm 
Publisher: Fusui Gabo
Literature: Reigle Stephens, Amy, gen. ed., The new wave: Twentieth-century Japanese prints from the Robert O. Muller Collection, 1993, p. 113, pl. 93. Reigle Newland, Amy, gen. ed., Printed to Perfection: Twentieth-century Japanese Prints from the Robert O. Muller Collection, 2004, p. 44, no. 15. Hisao Shimizu, Syotei (Hiroaki) Takahashi, 2005, p. 66, no. 322. Hisao Shimizu, The Collected Print Works of Shotei Takahashi, A Modern Ukiyo-e Painter, 2006, no. 113 (and inside cover flap).

SKU: HIA044