100 Views of Edo # 116 by Ando Hiroshige

Additional Pictures: Artist: Ando Hiroshige (1787-1858)

Woodblock Print Title: Sugatami Bridge, Omokage Bridge, Jariba at Takata (Takata Sugataminohashi Omokagenohashi jariba), from the series One Hundred Famous Views of Edo (Meisho Edo hyakkei)

1st Publication: 1857

Size: Vertical oban; 35.7 x 24.5 cm (14 1/16 x 9 5/8 in.)

Date of this edition: 1857

Publisher: Uoya Eikichi

Condition: Minor soiling, horizontal crease now flattened.

More about this print: This scene portrays samurai retainers practicing military skills at the Takata Riding Grounds in the hilly northwestern suburbs of Edo. It is a reminder that half of Edo's population consisted of a hereditary warrior class that, even after more than two centuries of peace, was still expected to maintain its military skills. The practice of the martial arts was on the rise at the time this print appeared, reflecting a mounting foreign crisis and a heightened governmental emphasis on education and training.

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.