Item from the Mokuhankan Flea Market

8 Snow Scenes of the Eastern Capital (set of 8)

Size: 26.0cm by 39.5cm (10.24 in by 15.55 in) | Enlargement | Shipping Code: [XL] ?

Designer: Ando Hiroshige

Era: Mid Showa | Currency: $ / £ / €

Price: ¥ 85,000$ 629.00£ 459.00€ 530.00 [Item has been sold]

Description: Although this series of snow-covered landscapes was designed by Hiroshige in the 1840s, it was not printed until the 1920s, when the artist's original black and white sketches were discovered in Paris. The reason why the images were not printed in Hiroshige's lifetime remains a mystery, as the preliminary sketches were stamped with approval by a censor, but the first (1920s) publisher, Shotaro Sato, suggests that the original publisher may have died or made a mistake (bankruptcy?) leading to the prints being sold off and later transported to Europe. However, in fact no "prints" were sold or shipped to Europe; what was there were the original woodblocks.

The first printing of the landscapes was painstaking work, as Hiroshige's extant snow scenes and colour schemes had to be carefully studied before colours could be chosen. Yujiro Maeda was the carver of the first blocks, and Gasen Oiwa the printer, although this particular 1979 set was probably printed using new blocks.

The full story is told on this site, but the core details are summarized this way:

* * * "According to a note by the publisher Mr Sato which accompanies this portfolio, Hiroshige finished and signed the original drawings for this set between 1842 and 1847. They were passed by the censor, but the blocks were never cut, possibly because of the publisher's bankruptcy. Instead the drawings made their way to Europe, perhaps through Dutch traders in Nagasaki, and eventually into the famous collection of M. Emile Javal of Paris, where Mr. Sato found them and was given permission to publish the first edition. The finest wood-engravers, colorists and printers at the time were engaged in the production, following the tradition procedures of Hiroshige's own publishers, in an effort to achieve a standard of woodblock printing which would be worthy of the originals. Indeed, these eight prints do represent a peak of technical skill which it is difficult to believe can ever be reached again. And despite the 80-year gap between conception and execution these can justly be described as first impressions, first states, of a set which embodies some of Hiroshige's finest work."

* * * For an example of one of Hiroshige's sketches for this series, see this link.

* * * Please visit our Collection page where you can see our own preserved copy of this entire set at high-resolution.

The dimensions given are for each print.

The prints are in good condition, but some may have slight creases. In addition, two of the explanatory paper accompanying the prints have foxing.

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