Grand Series of Fishes - Around 1832 - 1833, Hiroshige designed a series of ten oban size woodblocks of fish for a privately printed poetry album. According to the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, shortly afterwards, the blocks were used for a commercial release, with the addition of one new subject and publisher and censor seals. Another nine designs were added circa 1840 - 1842 by another publisher, for a total of twenty woodblocks.

This untitled series, sometimes called the "Grand Series of Fishes" or "Large Fishes," fits into the genre of kacho-e (birds and flowers prints), which focuses on carefully observed birds, insects, fish, and flowers in natural habitats. Beautifully detailed varieties of fish and sea life are artfully arranged with grasses or plants against backgrounds with soft bokashi shading. A rarely seen series and a great example of Hiroshige's nature prints.

Shimadai, Ainame, and Nandina - Grand Series of Fishes - e (birds and flowers prints), which focuses on carefully observed birds, insects, fish, and flowers in natural habitats.

Beautifully detailed varieties of fish and sea life are artfully arranged with grasses or plants against backgrounds with soft bokashi shading. Originals from this series are somewhat rare, but a second edition printed from the original blocks appeared shortly after Hiroshige's death.

Artist - Hiroshige (1797 - 1858)

Image Size - 13 1/2" x 8 3/4" + margins as shown

Condition - This print with excellent color and detail as shown. Toned as shown. Some rubbing, fraying and holes as shown. A few small holes. Please see photos for details. Good overall.