Hiroshige: Crane
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Utagawa Hiroshige (1797-1858)

A Japanese crane (Red-crowned crane, also called Manchurian crane, grus japonensis) standing on a high pine tree at sunrise, guarding its nest with three fledglings, hungrily stretching their open beaks towards him.

Signature: Hiroshige hitsu

Seal: Ichiryûsai

Publisher: Maruya Jinpachi (Marujin, Enjudô), Edo

Censorship: Aratame

Date: 3rd month 1854

Size: Kakemono-e (vertical Ôban diptych), 72,5 x 24,5 cm (overall)

Very good impression, colours partially faded. The two sheets assembled, untrimmed and not backed. Toned along margins, some smoothed creases, a few weak stains and soiling. A small surface abrasion in right margin. Overall still very good condition of this rare and beautiful crane image.
Kakemono-e prints originally were often mounted and displayed as hanging scrolls, especially with an auspicious image like the crane around the New Year. For this reason preserved copies of kakemono-e are more often than not faded or damaged.
Provenance: Ex Collection Frank Lloyd Wright, Ex Collection Pasadena Art Museum (deaccessioned); Ex Collection Fred and Marcia Weisman, Los Angeles.
Cf. Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) Collection 34.639; Chazen Art Museum, Van Vleck Coll. 1980.2201; Harvard Art Museums, inv. no. 1917.95; British Museum 1906,1220,0.1039; MFA Boston, Spaulding Coll. 21.6889

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