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 Sakurai Restaurant: Ichikawa Kodanji IV as Asakura Togo, 1852 - Poignant image of Ichikawa Kodanji IV as Asakura Togo leaving his family. A local mayor, he petitioned the shogun directly for tax relief for his town, bypassing the crooked governor. Facing execution for this illegal act, he decided to leave his family to keep them safe. He is shown looking over his shoulder one last time with an anguished glance, his brows furrowed and loose hairs framing his face. He wears a heavy striped coat over his kimono, and has a cloth bundle and a small wicker trunk tied over his shoulder with a red sash. Above, the floral-shaped inset by Hiroshige shows a waitress at the Sakurai Restaurant kneeling beside a low table, serving food from a platter. The inset at left shows a stack of straw-wrapped sake casks. A handsome design with a moving kabuki portrait.

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

Image Size - 13 5/8" x 9 1/2"

Condition - This print with excellent detail as shown. Some holes, repaired. A few stains and creases. Please see photos for details.