Kunisada: Prayer to Buddha
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Utagawa Kunisada (Toyokuni III) (1786-1865) / Utagawa Hiroshige II (1826-1869)

Two farmers, carrying a board with a prayer to Buddha for rain during a drought, are shocked and delighted to see a water fountain shooting up miraculously from a rock. On top of the fountain sits a praying Buddhist monk. Above a landscape view with a temple, designed like a framed ex-voto picture (hôgaku).

Title: Chichibu junrei sanjûyonban Nittakusan Suisenji (No. 34 of the Chichibu pilgrimage, the Suisen temple at Mt. Nittaku) - Fudatate-tôge (At Fudatate pass)

Series: Kannon Reigenki (Records of the miracles of Kannon)

Signature: Toyokuni ga, in Toshidama cartouche, and Hiroshige (temple view)

Publisher: Yamadaya Shôjirô (Yamashô, Kinkyôdô), Edo

Date: 1959, 5th month

Size: Vertical Ôban, 37.5 x 25.5 cm (overall)

Excellent impression and colours, with shomenzuri (lustre-printing). Four tiny pinholes in upper margin, a little soiling, rubbing and creasing in margins. Unobtrusive weak horizontal centrefold. Overall very nice condition.
Cf. MFA Boston, No 11.42651, with a complete transcription of the text written by the author Mantei Ôga (1818-1890).

€ 320,-