Miya: Murmuring Pines (宮 頃松 - Miya: Muramatsu) - Utagawa Hiroshige (Ando) - Japan - Edo Period (1600-1868)

Artist: Utagawa Hiroshige (1797–1858)
Title: Miya: Murmuring Pines (宮 頃松 - Miya: Muramatsu)
Series: Pictures of Famous Places in the 53 Stations (五十三次名所圖會 - Gojūsanjūtsugi meisho zue), commonly known as the Vertical Tōkaidō
Station: Station 42 (numbered 43 on the print)
Date: 1855 (Ansei 2), 7th month
Publisher: Tsutaya Kichizō (Kōeidō)
Format: Vertical Ōban (approx. 36.5 cm × 24.5 cm)
Artwork Overview
A classic original woodblock print from Hiroshige’s revered vertical Tōkaidō series. The composition depicts travelers and figures resting beneath gnarled coastal pine trees along the shores of Miya (modern-day Nagoya), overlooking the ocean waves with distant flights of birds migrating across the sky. Lower left bears Hiroshige’s signature in a red cartouche (広重筆 - Hiroshige hitsu), alongside publisher seal (Tsutaya) and date/censor seals (Aratama / Hare 7).
Condition Report
Overall State: Good Antique Condition
* Color & Impression: Impression is clear with fine line work visible in the pine needles, water patterns, and figures. Colors remain distinct, with strong deep blues (aizuri) in the water, though overall tonality shows expected age-related mellowing.
* Paper & Toning: General age-toning and paper yellowing across the entire sheet, consistent with 19th-century washi paper.
* Margins: Full original borders intact.
* Defects / Wear:
* Foxing & Staining: Light foxing and small age spots present across the upper sky area and outer margins. Minor surface smudge near the bottom left edge.
* Creasing & Wrinkling: Slight handling creases and subtle vertical paper rippling visible under direct light.
* Edges & Corners: Minor corner rubbing and slight wear along the outer paper edges; no major tears, trimming, or loss of image area visible.
* Backing: Unbacked (single original sheet).
Note: Please examine all photos carefully as they form an integral part of this lot description.