Ando Utagawa Hiroshige, a woodblock print triptych, 1854.

"Evening Cool at Ryogoku Bridge" from the series "Famous Places of the Eastern Capital" (Toto meisho). Signed Hiroshige ga, sealed aratame and with the publisher Arita-ya Seiemon's seal, dated 1854. Vertical ôban triptych: circa 35 x 24 cm (x3).

The sheets connected and laid on paper. Partly faded and with minor stains and foxing, trimmed at the margins and with minor tears.

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The present triptych is nearly identical to that in the collections of Harvard Art Museum (object no. 1933.4.5001) and the triptych sold at Christies (object no. 1933.4.5001), with the difference that the palette is somewhat different—notably in the lower clouds and in the background to the fireworks—but otherwise they are to be considered identical.

For comparison, go to:
https://www.harvardartmuseums.org/art/206477; and https://onlineonly.christies.com/s/artist-woodblock-japanese-prints/utagawa-hiroshige-1797-1858-64/72256

More about Ando Utagawa Hiroshige

Ando Hiroshige is one of the most renowned a Japanese painters born in Edo. He began his artistic career as an apprentice to Utagawa Toyohiro. After completing his training, Hiroshige took his teacher's name and started signing his works Utagawa Hiroshige. Hiroshige painted motifs from everyday life, and it is said that he decided to become an artist after seeing the works of the contemporary artist Hokusai. Hiroshige transformed ordinary landscapes into intimate, lyrical scenes. He is particularly known for his beautiful landscape images in the woodblock printing technique and has painted portraits of young women and actors. His masterpiece is considered to be the work “Fifty-three Stations of the Tokaido.”

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