7008 - Japanese ukiyo-e woodblock print by Utagawa Hiroshige II and Utagawa Kunisada / Toyokuni III: "Tōeizan / Cherry blossom view in Edo"

Japanese ukiyo-e woodblock print by Utagawa Hiroshige II and Utagawa Kunisada / Toyokuni III: "Tōeizan / Cherry blossom view in Edo" Japan, Edo period, 1864 Utagawa Hiroshige II, Japan 1826-1869, and Utagawa Kunisada, also Toyokuni III, Japan 1786-1865. Original Japanese color woodblock print on paper, so-called Ukiyo-e / Nishiki-e. The print is from the series "Edo jiman sanjūrokkyō", German: "Sechsunddreißig Ansichten / Sehenswürdigkeiten des Stolzes von Edo". This series was published in 1864 and is known as a joint work by Hiroshige II and Kunisada / Toyokuni III. Comparable sheets in the series are listed with the signatures Hiroshige and Toyokuni/Kunisada as well as the publisher Hiranoya. It depicts an elegant lady in a blue, richly patterned kimono, sitting on a red mat in front of a blossoming cherry tree landscape. A temple or shrine complex can be seen in the background, probably in the Tōeizan / Kan'ei-ji area in Edo, today's Tokyo, as well as several figures in the garden or temple surroundings. The scene combines an Edo view with a figurative depiction in the style of bijin-ga, i.e. the depiction of beautiful women. The landscape and the large tree in the foreground can be attributed to Hiroshige II, the female figure to Kunisada / Toyokuni III. At the top right is the red serial cartouche 江戸自慢三十六興 / Edo jiman sanjūrokkyō, which translates roughly as "Thirty-six famous pleasures / Views of the pride of Edo". The white cartouche next to it names the motif, according to the note on the reverse "Edo jiman sanjūrokkyō" and probably Tōeizan / cherry blossom motif. Signed "Hiroshige ga" on the left, Japanese 広重画, translated "drawn by Hiroshige". The figure or part of the figure is attributed to Kunisada / Toyokuni III; according to the label on the reverse: Utagawa Kunisada / Toyokuni III. There is a publisher's or stamp area at the bottom left. Dimensions: approx. 44.5 × 33 cm including frame. Age and provenance: Japan, Edo period, 1864. Inscribed on the label on the reverse as Utagawa Hiroshige II, 1826-17 Sept. 1869, and Utagawa Kunisada / Toyokuni III, 1786-1865, from the series "Edo jiman sanjūrokkyō". Hiranoya is noted as the publisher on the reverse. The dating and series classification correspond with known records of this series, which was published in 1864. Framed behind glass in black frame with dark passepartout. The sheet shows visible signs of age and use, including slight discoloration, stains, paper waves, minor creases and folds, marginal irregularities, occasional rubbing and age-related colour fading. Overall still decoratively and effectively preserved in terms of color.