100 Views of Edo # 67 by Ando Hiroshige

Artist: Ando Utagawa Hiroshige (1787-1858)

Woodblock Prints Title: The Ferry Crossing at Sakasai (Sakasai no watashi), from the series One Hundred Famous Views of Edo (Meisho Edo hyakkei)

1st Publication: February 1857

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

Date of this edition: 1857

Publisher: Uoya Eikichi

Condition: Soiling rubbing, toning, color fading, remnants from prior backing, stains, a couple of scratches and tiny holes. Fair overall condition.

More about this Print: The birds that dominate this scene in the swampy delta area around the village of Sakasai east of Edo have been accorded special attention, with their wing patterns executed in delicate karazuri embossing. Judging from the bushy crests and yellow bills, the birds are Chinese egrets—a species only rarely seen in the summer in Japan. Far more common was the little egret, with no crest and a black bill. The artist naturally preferred the more decorative species, whether it was to be found in the place or not.

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.