Fire in Edo - Great design from a series depicting a fire in Edo, including fantastic illustrations of the city engulfed in flames. Subjects include quieter moments before the fire, with a daimyo's procession and groups of firefighters making their way through the streets before flames begin to rise in the distance. Other scenes show firemen battling the conflagration as townspeople and prisoners who were released flee. Several designs include a hand-applied spattering of red pigment to simulate flying embers. The series was published in Taisho 4 (1915) but shows a much earlier fire. Since fires were common in Edo because of the tightly packed wooden buildings, we are not sure to which specific event the series refers. Kiichiro Kikuchi succeeded Hiroshige III to become Hiroshige IV in 1911. The first time we've seen designs from this rare series.

Artist - Hiroshige IV (1848 - ?)

Image Size - 7 1/2" x 11 1/8" + margins as shown

Condition - This print with excellent color and detail as shown. Backed with paper. Diagonal fold. A few creases. Please see photos for details.