Hiroshige: Asakusa River, Great Riverbank, Miyato River (Sold)

Artist: Utagawa Hiroshige
Title: Asakusa River, Great Riverbank, Miyato River
Series: One Hundred Famous Views of Edo: Meisho Edo Hyakkei
Date: 7/1857

Here the viewer takes part in the summer custom of the ablutions of the Mount Ôyama pilgrims, which took place near the Ryôgoku Bridge on the Sumida River. The view is characteristically indirect, showing the ceremonial gohei assemblages only in part and the tops of some pilgrims’ heads below. To the right is another boat filled with pilgrims, with a ceremonial person known as a yamabushi blowing a large conch shell standing near the prow. The artist’s focus on a clear sky might have the association of purity that the pilgrims in the print are seeking on this day on the river.

Condition: Excellent impression and color, very good condition. Unbacked, with mica highlights in sky. Small repair left margin and some smudges in the blue of the water.
Dimensions: ôban
Publisher: Uoya Eikichi
Literature: Henry Smith II: Hiroshige One Hundred Famous View of Edo:plate 60
Seal: Aratame & date year
Signature: Hiroshige ga

SKU: HIR245