HIROSHIGE · Night Cherry Blossoms in the Yoshiwara · Tōto Meisho · ca. 1843–44 - Japan - Edo Period (1600-1868)
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Selected by Giovanni Bottero
Holds a master’s in Japanese art history with over 10 years’ expertise in Asian art.
Estimate € 350 - € 450
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Original Edo-period woodblock print by Utagawa Hiroshige, Night Cherry Blossoms in the Yoshiwara, ca. 1843–44, 37 × 25 cm, in good condition.
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Description from the seller
Artist: Utagawa Hiroshige 歌川広重 (1797–1858)
Title: Yoshiwara yozakura no zu 吉原夜桜之図 (Cherry Blossoms at Night in the Yoshiwara)
Series: Tōto Meisho 東都名所 (Famous Places in the Eastern Capital)
Date: ca. 1843–44
Publisher: Sanoya Kihei 佐野喜 (Kikakudō)
Signature / seals: Signed Hiroshige ga 広重画; publisher's mark and censor seal at lower right
Technique: Woodblock print (nishiki-e); ink and colour on paper
Provenance: Huguette Berès Collection, Paris
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Condition
A well inked impression with well-preserved colours; the composition reads clearly, as it should in such an iconic design. There is a minor repair to the margin and some minor creases, all confined to the margins outside the image. Good overall. Please check the images!
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About the Print
The Yoshiwara, Edo's licensed pleasure quarter, was not only a place of courtesans and teahouses but also one of the city's great seasonal sights. From the mid-eighteenth century, cherry trees were brought in each spring and planted along Naka-no-chō, the quarter's main avenue, only to be removed again once the blossoms had fallen. Lit by the lanterns of the teahouses, these night cherries (yozakura) drew crowds from all over Edo, including many who never set foot inside a brothel, and the spectacle became one of the classic subjects of ukiyo-e.
Hiroshige returned to Edo's famous places throughout his career and produced many series under the title Tōto Meisho for different publishers. This set, issued by Sanoya Kihei in the early 1840s, belongs to the period just after the Tenpō reforms, when direct images of courtesans were restricted and the landscape of a "famous place" offered a way to show the quarter as a public seasonal scene. The Yoshiwara night-cherry design is among the best-known sheets of the series and a good example of Hiroshige's gift for turning a crowded city view into a clear, balanced composition.
Seller's Story
I've been collecting Japanese woodblock prints for quite a while now — everything from classic ukiyo-e to shin-hanga and sōsaku-hanga. What started as a personal passion eventually turned into something more, and these days I source prints from auctions, galleries, and private collections across Japan and Europe.
With growing worldwide interest in Japanese woodblock prints, gallery prices have been climbing steadily. My goal is simple: offer high-quality, authentic prints at reasonable prices. I'm picky about what I sell — I look for pieces that have been stored properly, kept flat, and are free from serious foxing, stains, or damage.
I'm based in Germany, which means EU buyers won't deal with any import duties or taxes. For US buyers, original artworks under HS code 9702 are duty-free as well. And wherever you are, I pack everything carefully with multiple layers of protection so your print arrives safely.
If you have questions about a piece, just reach out. You will get access to contact me once you've won an item from my lots.
Artist: Utagawa Hiroshige 歌川広重 (1797–1858)
Title: Yoshiwara yozakura no zu 吉原夜桜之図 (Cherry Blossoms at Night in the Yoshiwara)
Series: Tōto Meisho 東都名所 (Famous Places in the Eastern Capital)
Date: ca. 1843–44
Publisher: Sanoya Kihei 佐野喜 (Kikakudō)
Signature / seals: Signed Hiroshige ga 広重画; publisher's mark and censor seal at lower right
Technique: Woodblock print (nishiki-e); ink and colour on paper
Provenance: Huguette Berès Collection, Paris
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Condition
A well inked impression with well-preserved colours; the composition reads clearly, as it should in such an iconic design. There is a minor repair to the margin and some minor creases, all confined to the margins outside the image. Good overall. Please check the images!
---------------------------------------------------------------------
About the Print
The Yoshiwara, Edo's licensed pleasure quarter, was not only a place of courtesans and teahouses but also one of the city's great seasonal sights. From the mid-eighteenth century, cherry trees were brought in each spring and planted along Naka-no-chō, the quarter's main avenue, only to be removed again once the blossoms had fallen. Lit by the lanterns of the teahouses, these night cherries (yozakura) drew crowds from all over Edo, including many who never set foot inside a brothel, and the spectacle became one of the classic subjects of ukiyo-e.
Hiroshige returned to Edo's famous places throughout his career and produced many series under the title Tōto Meisho for different publishers. This set, issued by Sanoya Kihei in the early 1840s, belongs to the period just after the Tenpō reforms, when direct images of courtesans were restricted and the landscape of a "famous place" offered a way to show the quarter as a public seasonal scene. The Yoshiwara night-cherry design is among the best-known sheets of the series and a good example of Hiroshige's gift for turning a crowded city view into a clear, balanced composition.
Seller's Story
I've been collecting Japanese woodblock prints for quite a while now — everything from classic ukiyo-e to shin-hanga and sōsaku-hanga. What started as a personal passion eventually turned into something more, and these days I source prints from auctions, galleries, and private collections across Japan and Europe.
With growing worldwide interest in Japanese woodblock prints, gallery prices have been climbing steadily. My goal is simple: offer high-quality, authentic prints at reasonable prices. I'm picky about what I sell — I look for pieces that have been stored properly, kept flat, and are free from serious foxing, stains, or damage.
I'm based in Germany, which means EU buyers won't deal with any import duties or taxes. For US buyers, original artworks under HS code 9702 are duty-free as well. And wherever you are, I pack everything carefully with multiple layers of protection so your print arrives safely.
If you have questions about a piece, just reach out. You will get access to contact me once you've won an item from my lots.
Details
Dynastic Style/Period
Edo Period (1600-1868)
Number of objects
1
Country of Origin
Japan
Attribution
Original
Height
37 cm
Width
25 cm
Title of artwork
HIROSHIGE · Night Cherry Blossoms in the Yoshiwara · Tōto Meisho · ca. 1843–44
Condition
Good condition
Authenticity
Original/official
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