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 Musashiya Restaurant, 1852 - Bold kabuki portrait of Arashi Kichisaburo III as the brash warrior monk Benkei, a loyal retainer of Minamoto no Yoshitsune. He grimaces angrily as he looks to the side, his flared wig and red and gray stage makeup adding to his fierce appearance. He wears a robe with a pattern of oversize Buddhist prayer wheels over a suit of armor, a string of larger prayer beads looped around his neck. The fan-shaped inset by Hiroshige above depicts a view from the coast of Susaki, with sails dotting the horizon. The panel at left shows lacquer trays with dishes on them and a ceramic bowl filled with water at the Musashiya Restaurant. A terrific design with fine line work in the hair and burnishing on the flared part of the wig.

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. Faint toning near edges, slight rubbing. Please see photos for individual condition. Nice overall.