Utagawa Hiroshige (1797-1858)
A spring still life showing two abalones (awabi, lat. haliotis), a halfbeak (or needlefish, sayori, lat. Hemirhamphus sayori) and a twig with peach blossoms (momo). Above three humorous poems (kyôka) by the poets Kumogaki Fujimi, Miwagaki Amaki and Chiyogaki Sunao.
Series: From the untitled, first large fish series (Uo-zukushi).
Signature: Ichiryûsai Hiroshige ga
Publisher: Nishimuraya Yohachi (Eijudô), Edo
Censorship: Kiwame
Date: c. 1832-34
Size: Horizontal Ôban, 25,1 x 37 cm (overall)
Very good impression and colours, only minimally faded. Unbacked. Some soiling, smoothed creases, at top and bottom margins and corners some expertly restored paper losses. Overall still in good condition. Rare.
From a slightly later edition of this important fish series by Hiroshige, here with the seals of the publisher Eijudô and the Kiwame censor seal.
Ill.: Tamba Tsuneo, The Art of Hiroshige, Tokyo 1965, p. 175, no. 150, no. 423, and p. 30; Richard Kruml in Andon no. 49, 1994, p. 17ff (listing the different print states); Eiko Kondo, Schön wie die Blumen. Japanische Farbholzschnitte des 19. Jahrhunderts aus dem Wilhelm Lehmbruck Museum Duisburg. Duisburg 1997, p. 158f, cat. No. 69 (with german translation of the poems). Gian Carlo Calza, Hiroshige, Il maestro della natura, Cat. Exhibit. Rome, Milan 2009, p. 63, cat. No. I.47, u. p. 251 (with transcription and italian translation of the poems).
Comparable print states: MFA Boston 11.17170; Chazen 1980.1967; Honolulu, Michener Coll. 24753; MAK Vienna KI 10935-1: Lyon Coll. 1064; Baltimore 2012.177; Worcester 1901.59.1759; Portland 2015.33.1.
€ 1.550,- reserved