Hiroshige: Tsukudajima from Etai Bridge (Sold)

Artist: Utagawa Hiroshige (1797-1858)
Title: Tsukudajima from Etai Bridge
Series: One Hundred Famous Views of Edo: Meisho Edo Hyakkei
Date: 2/1857

As Henry Smith II remarks: “The technical resources of the printer combine perfectly with the skilled design of the artist in this lyrical night view.” Hiroshige has somehow created a fulfilling design using mostly negative space and highly truncated portions of larger objects. The triangle of negative space leads the eye upwards towards the gibbous moon. The stars have come out above the horizon that is still lit from sunset. We see two small fishing craft peeking out from behind the bridge pillar, their wood-burning fires built to attract fish reflecting off of the water. The parallels between this work and James Whistler’s “Old Battersea Bridge” are so strong to be almost startling.

Condition: Excellent impression and color. Very good condition. Center fold.
Dimensions: ôban (36.5 x 24.7 cm)
Publisher: Uoya Eikichi
Literature: Henry Smith II: Hiroshige One Hundred Famous View of Edo: plate 4.
Seal: Aratame & date year
Signature: Hiroshige ga

SKU: HIR506