Thank you for visiting. Ukiyo-e Woodblock Print Utagawa Hiroshige “Fish Series: Kasago & Isaki with Ginger”. “Kasago and Isaki with Ginger”. From Hiroshige’s Fish Series (Uozukushi) by the world-renowned ukiyo-e master Utagawa Hiroshige. It is a faithful reproduction, carefully hand-printed using traditional Japanese woodblock techniques, preserving the natural beauty and refined expression found in Hiroshige’s original design. 43.5 × 32.0 cm (17.1 × 12.6 in). 37.0 × 25.5 cm (14.6 × 10.0 in). Paper: Traditional Japanese washi paper. This listing is for the washi paper print only. Photo 4 shows the reverse side of the print and the woodblocks used. The visible dye bleed-through on the back is evidence of authentic hand-printing, not a modern mechanical print. Utagawa Hiroshige was born as the son of Ando Gen’emon, a low-ranking samurai and fire warden stationed at Yayosu-gashi in Edo. In the autumn of 1832 (Tenpo 3), Hiroshige had the opportunity to travel from Edo to Kyoto and back along the Tokaido as part of an official shogunate procession. This journey is believed to have inspired him greatly. In 1833 (Tenpo 4), he produced his masterpiece. The Fifty-three Stations of the Tokaido. This celebrated series employed perspective techniques and dynamic, three-dimensional depictions that evoke wind and rain. Beyond its artistic excellence, the series was immensely popular as it allowed people of the time to glimpse distant landscapes they could only dream of visiting. Hiroshige’s works have been highly acclaimed in Europe and the United States for their bold compositions and especially for their exquisite use of blue, particularly indigo. In the West, this color is often referred to as “Japan Blue” or “Hiroshige Blue, ” sometimes compared to Vermeer Blue (lapis lazuli). His art had a profound influence on Impressionist painters and Art Nouveau artists in late 19th-century France and is considered one of the driving forces behind the Japonisme movement. Artwork Description – Hiroshige’s Fish Series (Uozukushi). “Hiroshige’s Fish Series (Uozukushi)” was originally published as a series of woodblock prints accompanied by kyoka (humorous poems). Focusing on seasonal fish, the series delights viewers with its innovative yet simple compositions. Is a playful and charming work featuring a moist, brown-toned kasago (rockfish) and a vividly blue isaki (grunt fish), complemented by sprigs of ginger (hajikami). The accompanying kyoka poem relates directly to the fish depicted, adding wit and humor to this delightful composition. These charges are the responsibility of the purchaser.