Utagawa Hiroshige, Akasaka, Woodcut, 1831

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Akasaka is a polychrome woodblock print, the plate n. 36 from the series - Fifty-three Stations of the Tôkaidô (Ryosha … Read more Akasaka is a polychrome woodblock print, the plate n. 36 from the series - Fifty-three Stations of the Tôkaidô (Ryosha Shofu npo Zu), designed by Utagawa Hiroshige (歌川 広重, 1797-1858) after his travel along the Tokaido in 1832, and published by Takenouchi Magoichi (1780-1854) around 1831-34. This plate, reports in Japanese ideograms the signature of the artist, and the Censor's seal and Seal of Date. A copy of our specimen is preserved at the Carnegie Museum of Arts, Pittsburgh. In excellent condition, except for imperceptible aging signs, this original print depicts a inn with serving maids at Akasaka, the 36th stations along the Tokaido Road, rich of precious and fine details, has preserved still today its beauty and charme, showing the talented graphic touch of Hiroshige. Collect this superb Japanese print realized by one of the greatest old master of the ukiyo-e print, Hiroshige, to embellish your house with a sophisticated Oriental touch! The Fifty-Three Stations of the Tōkaidō (東海道五十三次, Tōkaidō Gojūsan-tsugi), is a series of ukiyo-e woodcut prints created by Utagawa Hiroshige after his first travel along the Tōkaidō in 1832. The Fifty-Three Stations of the Tōkaidō was such a popular subject that led Hiroshige to create some 30 series of woodcut prints on it, all very different one from the other by their size (ōban or chuban), their designs or even their number (some series include just a few prints). The Hōeidō edition of the Tōkaidō is Hiroshige's best known work, and the best sold ever ukiyo-e Japanese prints. Created after Hokusai's Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji series, this print series established this new major theme of ukiyo-e, the landscape print, or fūkei-ga, with a special focus on "famous views" (meisho). Hiroshige's series met a full success, not only in Japan, but later in Western countries. This piece is attributed to the mentioned designer/maker. It has no attribution mark and no
official proof of authenticity,
however it is well documented in design history. I take full responsibility for any authenticity



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