100 Views of Edo # 34 Deluxe Edition by Ando Hiroshige

Artist: Ando Utagawa Hiroshige (1787-1858)

Woodblock Prints Title: Night View of Matsuchiyama and the San'ya Canal (Matsuchiyama San'yabori yakei), from the series One Hundred Famous Views of Edo (Meisho Edo hyakkei)

1st Publication: August 1857

Size: Vertical ôban; 35.9 x 24.6 cm (14 1/8 x 9 11/16 in.)

Date of this edition: August 1857

Publisher: Uoya Eikichi

Condition: Trimmed to the margins. A restored tear by the lower left section of the print. Very strong wood grain, from early impression. Excellent colors and impression, fair overall condition.

Notes: This is a rare early edition, Deluxe edition with Mica in the sky area. Usually, this technique was reserved for good customer or prestigious people, as the technology was fairly new, expensive and difficult to master. Great print, great colors, nice wood grain from the original block, a real masterpiece from this 100 views of Edo series.

More about this print: While some perceive this scene as sinister and strange, others see it as suggestive and romantic. In the dark background, at the foot of the hill Matsuchiyama and flanking the San'ya Canal and the pillars of the Imado Bridge, are the alluring lights of two restaurants. Stars glitter in the sky above and are reflected in the water below. In the foreground, a geisha follows the bright lantern of her attendant along the embankment. Hers is one of the few full portraits in the series. Perhaps returning from a banquet at one of the restaurants, she is an intriguing figure against the sultry backdrop.

Pictures: Pictures are taken outdoor, in the shade, to reflect true colors, without any enhancements of any kind. The last picture is taken indoor, with a light behind the print, to reveal the exact paper grain, holes if any, or other possible flaws.