Currently not on view
Memorial Portrait of Hiroshige,
September 1858
Utagawa Kunisada 歌川国貞 (Utagawa Toyokuni III 三代歌川豊国), artist, 1786–1865; born and died Tokyo, Japan
Honda Jinzaburō, author, 1781–1861
Yokokawa Takejirō 横川竹二郎, carver, active mid-19th century
Uoya Eikichi 魚屋栄吉 (Kinshōdō 金松堂), publisher
Honda Jinzaburō, author, 1781–1861
Yokokawa Takejirō 横川竹二郎, carver, active mid-19th century
Uoya Eikichi 魚屋栄吉 (Kinshōdō 金松堂), publisher
Japanese
Edo period, 1603–1868
2021-100
Information
Title
Memorial Portrait of Hiroshige
Dates
September 1858
Maker
Utagawa Kunisada 歌川国貞 (Utagawa Toyokuni III 三代歌川豊国) , artist
Honda Jinzaburō , author
Uoya Eikichi 魚屋栄吉 (Kinshōdō 金松堂) , publisher
Honda Jinzaburō , author
Uoya Eikichi 魚屋栄吉 (Kinshōdō 金松堂) , publisher
Medium
Woodblock print (ōban tate-e format); ink and color on paper
Dimensions
35.9 × 24.8 cm (14 1/8 × 9 3/4 in.)
Credit Line
Museum purchase, The Anne van Biema Collection Fund
Object Number
2021-100
Signatures
Artist signature, 17-syllable haiku by Kunisada: Omoi kiya rakurui nagara Toyokuni ga (Shedding tears while thinking of him. Painted by Toyokuni).
Artist seal: Chōen Ikku 長煙一空 (Wisp of smoke rising to the sky)
Inscription
Verso, bottom right, in graphite: IGP1402
Marks/Labels/Seals
Inscription by Honda Jinzaburō 本田甚三郎 (pen name: Tenmei Rōjin 天明老人): Ryusai Hiroshige is a distinguished pupil of Toyohiro, who was a pupil of Toyoharu, the founder of the Utagawa school. At the present time Hiroshige, Toyokuni (Kunisada) and Kuniyoshi are considered the three greatest masters of the ukiyo-e; no others equal them. Hiroshige was especially noted for landscape. In the third year of Ansei (1856) he began to work on the “Hundred Views of Edo” which vividly presents the scenery of Edo. At about this time he also published monthly an illustrated book entitled “Sonnets on Edo Scenes,” where his skill was fully displayed for the admiration of his readers. It is most regrettable, however, that he departed from this world on the 6th day of the 9th month of this year (1858) at the ripe age of sixty-two. He left behind a farewell sonnet.
Azuma ji ni fude wo nokoshite tabi no sora;
Nishi no mikuni no meisho wo mimu.
I have let fall my brush at Azuma (the eastern provinces)
and depart to enjoy the wondrous sceneries of the West (Buddhist heaven)
This is by Tenmei Rōjin . . .
Blockcutter’s seal:
Yokogawa Takejirō 横川竹二郎 (act. mid 19th century)
“Yokogawa hori Take” 橫川彫竹, yellow tall rect. relief
Publisher’s seal:
Uoya Eikichi 魚屋栄吉 (Kinshōdō 金松堂) (act. mid 19th century)
“Shitaya Uo’ei” 下谷魚榮, red tall rect. relief
Censor’s seal:
午九 black tall oval relief
Culture
Period
Type
Materials
Techniques
–2021 Sebastian Izzard LLC, Asian Art, ( –2021 Sebastian Izzard LLC, Asian Art, (New York, NY), sold to the Princeton University Art Museum, 2021.
