Hiroshige: Bikuni bridge in snow
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Utagawa Hiroshige (1797-1858)

Nocturnal snow scene at a small bridge; large shop signs stand on both sides of the street; in the background a fire watch tower. A dog and puppies are to the right, next to a yaki-imo stall, selling fried sweet potatoes. Snow falls from a deep-blue sky.

Title: Bikuni-bashi setchû (Bikuni bridge in snow)

Series: Meisho Edo hyakkei (One Hundred Famous Views of Edo)

Signature: Hiroshige ga

Publisher: Uo-Ei (Uo-ya Eikichi), Edo

Date: 1858, 10th month

Size: Vertical Oban, 33,5 x 22,6 cm (image size)

Ver good impression. Red and Yellow tones – used only sparingly in this print – a little faded. Overall still very good colours. Unbacked. Outer margins minimally toned, left margin minimally trimmed. Few unobtrusive weak pleats in top, in bottom margin middle and left corner some paper thinning. Overall very nice condition. One of the strongest images in the series.

Smith/Poster No. 114. Compare also MFA Boston, Bigelow Coll. No. 11.36876.71,  Spaulding Coll. No. 21.10446; British Museum 1906,1220,0.719.
This image is sometimes (i.e. Smith/Poster) attributed to Hiroshige II.

Provenance: Ex Collection Frank Lloyd Wright, Ex Collection Fred Weisman, Los Angeles, Ex Collection Pasadena Art Museum.

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