One Hundred Famous Views of Edo - In 1856, Hiroshige began designing what was to be his last great series and a masterpiece, "One Hundred Famous Views of Edo." The series contains 118 vertical format woodblocks of classic Hiroshige landscapes. From spring cherry blossoms to summer fireworks, from quiet scenes along the river to lively festival celebrations, Hiroshige captures life in old Edo in dramatic and interesting ways. Hiroshige employed an inventive compositional technique in many of the prints, using large foreground elements to frame a distant view in the background, such as the image of Kinryuzan Temple seen through the doorway of the famous Thunder Gate. Beautifully printed with fine bokashi shading, "One Hundred Famous Views of Edo" retains its popularity today as one of Hiroshige's great masterworks, and includes some of his most memorable images.

Fine printing from the respected Tokyo publisher Oedo Mokuhansha - These classic designs were produced by the well known Tokyo publisher Oedo Mokuhansha amidst a resurgence of interest in ukiyo-e. Like many of these traditional businesses, the woodblock print craft was passed down through generations, and the Oedo Mokuhansha company was formed by descendents of an Edo era publisher. These are nice prints of the highest quality standards and an excellent choice if you are looking for fine old woodblock reprints.

Sudden Shower over Shin-Ohashi Bridge and Atake - Fantastic view of a sudden shower over Shin-Ohashi Bridge and Atake on a late summer afternoon in Edo. A torrent of rain falls from the dark sky as people crossing the New Great Bridge rush for cover, huddling under umbrellas, a hat, and a straw mat. A lone boatman poles a raft along the Sumida River, and the opposite bank, locally known as Atake, is silhouetted in dark gray. The rain is beautifully rendered in delicate dark lines, with fine bokashi shading in the water and sky adding to the stormy mood. Hiroshige's masterwork "Sudden Shower at Atake" ranks as one of his best and most famous designs. An outstanding image.

Woodblock reprints - In the 20th century, artists and publishers collaborated to recreate famous woodblock prints for interested Japanese collectors and Westerners looking for rare designs. New blocks were made, and the prints were painstakingly printed by artisan printers in the same method as the 19th century originals - one block for each color. Woodblock reprints were an opportunity to collect and enjoy a famous design at a small fraction of the price of an original. They still are today.

Artist - Hiroshige (1797 - 1858)

Image Size - 14" x 8 7/8" + margins as shown

Condition - Excellent overall with no issues to report.