From the Collection of the late Werner Schindler
EISEN: dai oban yoko-e (38 x 51.5cm.); an uki-e (perspective picture) entitled Suo Iwakuni Kintaibashi no zu "A design of Kintai bridge ['The Brocade Bridge'] at Iwakuni in Suo province", signed Keisai Eisen ga and published by Yamamotoya Heikichi--very good impression, slightly faded, small tears restored, center and horizontal folds worn and repaired, random small stains and surface rubbing

Details
EISEN: dai oban yoko-e (38 x 51.5cm.); an uki-e (perspective picture) entitled Suo Iwakuni Kintaibashi no zu "A design of Kintai bridge ['The Brocade Bridge'] at Iwakuni in Suo province", signed Keisai Eisen ga and published by Yamamotoya Heikichi--very good impression, slightly faded, small tears restored, center and horizontal folds worn and repaired, random small stains and surface rubbing

Lot Essay

PUBLISHED
Eiko Kondo, Masterpieces of Ukiyo-e Prints from the Schindler Collection (1985), pl. 156

A rare oversized print of the 'Brocade sash' arched bridge at Iwakuni in Suo province published around 1827-9. It is the second version of this landscape that Eisen designed. The earlier version, entitled Uki-e Suo Iwakuni Kintai-bashi no zu and published by Sokyoya Sobei circa 1818, depicts the bridge from a different angle. In the second print Eisen makes use of several characteristics of European prints, notably three-dimensional modelling, in the treatment of the hills and the cumulus clouds, and perspective drawing. A print of the same subject which also employs European techniques was designed by Kunisada for his series Komo abura-e meisho zukushi (A collection of famous places in the red-hair [Dutch] oil-painting style), the first edition of which was published by Yamaguchiya Tobei around 1824-5. A celebrated design of Kintai bridge in snow in more traditional ukiyo-e style was made by Hiroshige II for his series Shokoku meisho hyakkei "One hundred views of famous places in the various provinces" and published by Uoya Eikichi around 1859.