Details
UTAGAWA HIROSHIGE: oban tate-e (36.1 x 24.6cm.); Ohashi, Atake no yudachi "Ohashi, sudden shower at Atake", from the series Meisho Edo hyakkei "One hundred views of famous places in Edo", signed Hiroshige ga and published by Uoya Eikichi--fine impression, very good color, binding holes on the left margin, otherwise very good condition
Literature
Lane, Richard, Images from the Floating World (Fribourg: Oxford University Press, 1978), p. 183; Izzard, Sebastian Hiroshige, an exhibition of selected prints and illustrated books (The Ukiyo-e Society of America: New York, 1982), no. 83a, p. 94; Keyes, Roger, Japanese Woodblock Prints, A Catalogue of the Mary A. Ainsworth Collection (Allen Memorial Art Museum: Oberlin 1984), p. 112; Smith, Henry D., Hiroshige, One Hundred Famous Views of Edo (George Braziller Inc.: New York, 1986), no. 58.
It is now generally accepted that this version of Hiroshige's masterpiece is the earliest. This state is distinguished by the invariably fine impression, prominent woodgrain in the sky, the two extra boats or rafts hard by the far shore on the right, the original block for the whole far bank area including the two boats/rafts (totally recut for all later editions), and the large white area beneath the bridge, caused by an block cutter's error and plugged later. The number of examples that survive--an impression was sold in these Rooms October 7 and 8, 1988, lot 373--imply an edition was printed.
It is now generally accepted that this version of Hiroshige's masterpiece is the earliest. This state is distinguished by the invariably fine impression, prominent woodgrain in the sky, the two extra boats or rafts hard by the far shore on the right, the original block for the whole far bank area including the two boats/rafts (totally recut for all later editions), and the large white area beneath the bridge, caused by an block cutter's error and plugged later. The number of examples that survive--an impression was sold in these Rooms October 7 and 8, 1988, lot 373--imply an edition was printed.