Utagawa Hiroshige (1797-1858)
Travelling ladies and gentlemen promenading and chatting under the large red torii of the Atsuta shrine at Miya harbour, while waiting for the ferryboat that will carry them the seven miles (shichi-ri) over Ise bay to the port of Kuwana.
Title: Miya - Atsuta no eki - Shichiri no watashiguchi (Miya - the terminal of the seven-mile ferry in Atsuta) - Station no. 42
Series: Gojûsan tsugi meisho zue (Famous views of the 53 places i.e. stations along the Tokaido highway), also known as "Vertical Tôkaidô".
Signature: Hiroshige hitsu
Publisher: Tsutaya Kichizô (Kôeidô), Edo
Censorship: Aratame
Date: 1855, 7th month
Size: Vertical Ôban, 34,1 x 22,4cm (image)
Very nice impression and very good colours, with clearly visible wood grain. The red colour of the torii evenly oxidized. Unbacked, with good margins. Upper margin a little bit unevenly toned, top right corner a little bit thinned; a tiny tear in top margin. Few light creases. Overall very good and clean condition. The prints in this series were printed in different colour versions, some bolder and some more delicate, as seen here.
Yoneda/Walter, p. 100 f, no. 42. Vincent Van Gogh Foundation Collection, no. 42/N70. Cf. similar colour variants: Chazen Museum of Art, Van Vleck Collection, N. 1980.1105; Honolulu Museum of Art, Michener Coll., no. 24911 a.o.
The following print from this series, depicting the station Kuwana at the other end of the seven-mile journey can also be seen on our website HERE
€ 1.600,-