small woodblock print

[paulb]

dear All,

I am well out of my comfort zone with this but bought the print below for very little at a local antiques fair. I liked the compostion and colouring. I would be grateful if anyone can throw any light on the inscription

Many thanks

Paul

[cabowen]

It is a scene at Shono, one of the famous series 53 stations along the Tokaido by Hiroshige.

[paulb]

Thank you very much Chris

[leo]

This is the "Shono" print from the Tokaido series by Ando Hiroshige, showing travellers caught in a rainstorm. I it is signed Hiroshige ga.

 

Best,

Martin

[Eric H]

Hiroshige : Tokaido 53 Stations - 46 - Shono - Hoeido

 

http://www.hiroshige.org.uk/hiroshige/t ... ons_46.htm

 

Eric

[Baka Gaijin]

Good evening Paul,

 

Can you get an image of the back of the print please, then we can perhaps get a little more information regarding what sort of print it may be.

 

Hiroshige's publishers printed this many, many times, it was like their pension fund...

 

The original prints were mostly "scalloped" at the corners and also contained a publisher's lozenge and censor's "Kiwame" seal outside the main block area.

 

Cheers

[paulb]

Hi Malcolm,

I cant get an image of the back at present, I am shortly going to be on the road again for a few days. This has been remounted and framed recently so taking it apart may be a little challenging. The seller made no great claim for it and as I said I bought it knowing nothing about it other than it appealed.

I will see how easy it will be to take out of the mount when I get back

thanks for the input

regards

Paul

[Rich Thomas]

Hi Paul as suggested by others a very famous Hiroshige print (shono) from the Tokaido gojusan-tsugi series (53 stations of the tokaido). I think this is modern replica as suggested by Malcom the originals had scalloped corners, censor's Kiawme seal in left margin, also the reference examples I have seen all have key block line border. For interest sake the faint writing on the umbrella (on right) is (in the originals) the publishers surname, Takenouchi. There were a number of states and impressions (4 alternates that I've seen) this was often omitted in later impressions.

 

I too love the composition of this print, the traveler's and palanquin bearers running in opposite directions from a sudden squall, the bamboo lending a sense of movement to the print. Note the use of bold triangles of varying depths, and how it captures the violent yet measured rhythms of nature with the hurried activities of man!! Love it, I would have bought it too : )

 

Rich

[Baka Gaijin]

Morning all,

 

Here is a marvellous link to most of the many versions of the "Fifty-Three Stations of the Tokaido Road".

 

http://www.hiroshige.org.uk/hiroshige/t ... tokaido.ht

 

If you scroll down you can chose a station at a time with all the varient forms Hiroshige made.

 

Cheers

[Eric H]

The difference between Original and Repro

http://klefisch.com/index.php?page_id=4 ... emid=19269

 

Eric

[paulb]

Hi Eric,

thanks for that.

I have no doubt that mine is a much later copy. Fortunately I only paid £20 for it and it sits well in the space I had in mind for it. I was, and still am truly taken by the image. I think it is extremely evocative and deceptively simple in composition. I have spent many years studying western painting and am only now looking at this type of work in more detail. I think it is going to be a facinating journey.

Thanks again

Paul

[cabowen]

  paulb said:

I think it is extremely evocative and deceptively simple in composition.

Paul

 

I think that about sums up most of the best in Japanese art....

[Thierry BERNARD]

Hiroshige exhibition in Paris

 

viewtopic.php?f=6&t=14036