Famous Restaurants of the Eastern Capital - Handsome print from a collaborative series by Toyokuni III and Hiroshige, published between 1852 and 1853. Toyokuni III created the large actor portraits in the foreground, with Hiroshige designing the smaller landscape and still-life insets relating to the featured restaurant or its location. The Boston Museum of Fine Arts has many of these images in its collection. These attractive designs are beautifully colored and detailed, making them a great choice for a collector interested in Edo era woodblocks.

The Matsunozushi Restaurant, 1852 - Charming portrait of Iwai Kumesaburo III as the beauty Osato in the classic play "Yoshitsune Sembon Zakura." She is the daughter of the owner of a sushi store. She smiles happily as she looks back over her shoulder, adjusting a ribbon in her hair as she carries a pillow. Her brown and blue striped kimono features a design of blue iris blossoms and slender leaves, trimmed with black and worn over a red under robe. Her hair is pulled back into a smooth bun, adorned with a lacquer comb, a hairpin, a cluster of flowers, and several ribbons. The fan-shaped insets above show a tray stacked with dishes at the Matsunozushi Restaurant in Heizaemoncho, with a view looking out over the rooftops toward the water with a few sail boats moving along the calm surface. A handsome design, detailed with touches of embossing, and burnishing in the black collar.

Artist - Hiroshige (1797 - 1858) and Toyokuni III/Kunisada (1786 - 1864)

Image Size - 14 1/8" x 9 5/8"

Condition - This print with excellent color and detail as shown. Backed with old paper. Slight soiling. Some prints have faint toning or spotting near edges, or slight rubbing. Please see photos for individual condition. Generally in good condition overall.