Cherry Blossom Season on the Sumida River · 48 FAMOUS VIEWS OF EDO · HIROSHIGE II - 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 € 150 - € 200
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This original Edo-period woodblock print by Hiroshige II depicts cherry-blossom season on the Sumida River.
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Description from the seller
** Cherry Blossom Season on the Sumida River — Hiroshige II — Bakumatsu Edo — Spring Meisho — Edo’s Favourite Riverside Promenade. **
Artist: Utagawa Hiroshige II 二代歌川広重 (1826–1869)
Title: Kameido umeyashiki 亀戸梅やしき — Plum Garden at Kameido (No. 24, 廿四)
Series: Edo meisho shijūhakkei 江戸名所四十八景 — Forty-eight Famous Views of Edo
Publisher: Tsutaya Kichizō 蔦屋吉蔵 (Tsutakichi seal, right margin)
Date: 1860–1861 (Man'en 1 / Bunkyū 1)
Format: Chūban tate-e, 25 × 17 cm
Technique: Woodblock print (nishiki-e), ink and colour on paper
Signature: Hiroshige ga 廣重画, in a blue tanzaku cartouche at lower right
__________________________________________________________________
CONDITION
Strong impression and colors are well perserved with minor toning and some soiling, minor trimming on the margins. The paper is firm and subtle. Please check the images!
__________________________________________________________________
ABOUT THE PRINT
No river was more central to Edo life than the Sumida. It marked the eastern edge of the old city, carried boat traffic down to the bay, and on its banks Edo held its biggest seasonal outings: fireworks at Ryōgoku in summer, moon viewing in autumn, and cherry-blossom viewing in spring.
The cherry trees along the Sumida embankment go back to the eighth shōgun, Tokugawa Yoshimune. In the Kyōhō era (1716–1736) he had trees planted on the levee on the eastern bank as a public blossom-viewing spot for townspeople. It is often said there was also a practical reason: the crowds walking the bank each spring would tread the earth firm and strengthen the dyke. The embankment became one of the classic hanami destinations of Edo. Visitors arrived by boat or on foot, and the area near Chōmeiji temple became known for sakura-mochi, sweets wrapped in salted cherry leaves, which are still made there today.
In the series this sheet is followed shortly by No. 19, Matsuchiyama, another view from the same stretch of river. Impressions of this design (inscribed 江戸名所四十八景 十七 すみ田川) are held by the Tokyo Metropolitan Central Library and the Taito City Library.
__________________________________________________________________
ABOUT THE SERIES
Edo Meisho Shijūhakkei is a complete set of forty-eight chūban sheets, each pairing one of Edo's famous places with the seasonal feature it was known for; the publisher's seal and the censor's seal alternate from sheet to sheet, and two printing dates are documented — the twelfth month of Man'en 1 (1860) and the first month of Bunkyū 1 (1861). The publisher was Kōeidō, Tsutaya Kichizō.
Hiroshige II — born Suzuki Chinpei, pupil and adopted son-in-law of the first Hiroshige — inherited the name in 1858 and, with it, the obligation to keep the studio's famous-places line running. This set belongs to the very last years of Edo: within seven years of its publication the city had a new name and a new government, and the pleasure districts it records were about to change beyond recognition. The chūban format made them affordable souvenirs at the time, which is precisely why they now read as an unusually candid record of where townspeople actually went.
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.
** Cherry Blossom Season on the Sumida River — Hiroshige II — Bakumatsu Edo — Spring Meisho — Edo’s Favourite Riverside Promenade. **
Artist: Utagawa Hiroshige II 二代歌川広重 (1826–1869)
Title: Kameido umeyashiki 亀戸梅やしき — Plum Garden at Kameido (No. 24, 廿四)
Series: Edo meisho shijūhakkei 江戸名所四十八景 — Forty-eight Famous Views of Edo
Publisher: Tsutaya Kichizō 蔦屋吉蔵 (Tsutakichi seal, right margin)
Date: 1860–1861 (Man'en 1 / Bunkyū 1)
Format: Chūban tate-e, 25 × 17 cm
Technique: Woodblock print (nishiki-e), ink and colour on paper
Signature: Hiroshige ga 廣重画, in a blue tanzaku cartouche at lower right
__________________________________________________________________
CONDITION
Strong impression and colors are well perserved with minor toning and some soiling, minor trimming on the margins. The paper is firm and subtle. Please check the images!
__________________________________________________________________
ABOUT THE PRINT
No river was more central to Edo life than the Sumida. It marked the eastern edge of the old city, carried boat traffic down to the bay, and on its banks Edo held its biggest seasonal outings: fireworks at Ryōgoku in summer, moon viewing in autumn, and cherry-blossom viewing in spring.
The cherry trees along the Sumida embankment go back to the eighth shōgun, Tokugawa Yoshimune. In the Kyōhō era (1716–1736) he had trees planted on the levee on the eastern bank as a public blossom-viewing spot for townspeople. It is often said there was also a practical reason: the crowds walking the bank each spring would tread the earth firm and strengthen the dyke. The embankment became one of the classic hanami destinations of Edo. Visitors arrived by boat or on foot, and the area near Chōmeiji temple became known for sakura-mochi, sweets wrapped in salted cherry leaves, which are still made there today.
In the series this sheet is followed shortly by No. 19, Matsuchiyama, another view from the same stretch of river. Impressions of this design (inscribed 江戸名所四十八景 十七 すみ田川) are held by the Tokyo Metropolitan Central Library and the Taito City Library.
__________________________________________________________________
ABOUT THE SERIES
Edo Meisho Shijūhakkei is a complete set of forty-eight chūban sheets, each pairing one of Edo's famous places with the seasonal feature it was known for; the publisher's seal and the censor's seal alternate from sheet to sheet, and two printing dates are documented — the twelfth month of Man'en 1 (1860) and the first month of Bunkyū 1 (1861). The publisher was Kōeidō, Tsutaya Kichizō.
Hiroshige II — born Suzuki Chinpei, pupil and adopted son-in-law of the first Hiroshige — inherited the name in 1858 and, with it, the obligation to keep the studio's famous-places line running. This set belongs to the very last years of Edo: within seven years of its publication the city had a new name and a new government, and the pleasure districts it records were about to change beyond recognition. The chūban format made them affordable souvenirs at the time, which is precisely why they now read as an unusually candid record of where townspeople actually went.
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
Title of artwork
Cherry Blossom Season on the Sumida River · 48 FAMOUS VIEWS OF EDO · HIROSHIGE II
Condition
Good condition
Authenticity
Original/official
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