Hiroshige

1911 · 10476 — Tokyo: Daikokuya 1911. Second-hand hardcover. <p>Hiroshige Utagawa artist Uozukushi Every Variety of Fish. Reprint Daikokuya: Tokyo Meji 44 1911. 240x175mm cloth bds lepperollo oblong colour wood block prints 240x350mm In Japanese. Near Fine</p> <p><br /> <br /> æ­Œå·åºƒé‡ HIROSHIGE Utagawa born AndÅ TokutarŠ安藤 徳太郎 1797-1858<br /> <br /> ã•ã‹ãªã¤ãã— Uo Zukushi Shoal of Fishes<br /> <br /> Tokyo : 大黒屋 Daikokuya Meji 44 1911. First and only edition thus; illustrations first published TenpÅ 3-4 1832-3 and TenpÅ 11-13 1840-42<br /> <br /> 240x175mm tatami mat style boards illustrated colour title label accordion or lepperello folding horizontal chÅ«ban album cream handmade paper seven nishiki-e woodblock engraved illustrations with kirazuri silver mica decoration. Boards faintly soiled edges lightly frayed; hinges fragile first fold neatly split; remnants of bookseller ticket to front paste-down; faint age toning and soiling not affecting the illustrations.<br /> <br /> ¶ Hiroshige is widely considered the last of the grand master printers of the Ukiyo-e tradition. In 1832-4 TenpÅ 3-4 he produced a series of ten illustrations of fish with accompanying culinary herbs and vegetables together with poems published by Eijudo. A decade later a series of a further ten illustrations were produced by Yamasho. The illustrations were then reproduced commercially bearing publisher and censor stamps. Together the two untitled series are known as "Large Fish" or "Shoal of Fishes" or "Every Variety of Fish". <br /> <br /> The illustrations here are a selection from both series: Carp Koi swimming amongst reeds circa 1840-42 TenpÅ 11-13 poem by Makuzu; Abalone Awabi or Tokobushi Needlefish Sayori and Peach Blossoms circa 1832-3 TenpÅ 3-4 poems by Kumogaki Fujimi and Miwagaki Mimiki; Black Sea Bream Kurodai Small Sea Bream Kodai Asparagus shoots and Japanese Peppercorns Sansho circa 1832-33 TenpÅ 3-4 poems by Tomigaki Uchiyasu and Echigo Kawabukuro Kaôan hôshi Kaôan hôshi from Kawabukuro in Echigo Province; Lobster Ise ebi and Prawn Ama ebi circa 1832-33 TenpÅ 3-4 poems by Shimotsuke Edozaki Ryokujuen Motoari Ryokujuen Motoari from Edozaki in Shimotsuke Province and Nen'an Machikado; Flying fish Tobiuo White Croaker Ishimochi Guchi or Shiroguchi and a lily circa 1840-42 TenpÅ 11-13 poem by Toshigaki Maharu; Gurnard Kanagashira Right-Eye Flounder Konoa-garei and Bamboo Grass Sasa circa 1832-33 TenpÅ 3-4 poems by Shimotsuke Edozaki Ryokujuen Motoari Ryokujuen Motoari from Edozaki in Shimotsuke Province and Jakuyakutei Chikuson; and Japanese Sea Perch Suzuki and Red Bream Kaneme-tai and shiso leaves circa 1840-42 TenpÅ 11-13 poem by Atsugaki. <br /> <br /> To the front paste down is a calligraphic inscription 御ã†ã¤ãã—ã¿ã®æ³¢ Waves of Imperial Beauty by Maresuke Nogi 1859-1912 a Meiji era career military man in the Japanese Imperial Army. A general in the first Sino-Japanese War 1894-5 the invasion of Taiwan and the Russo-Japanese War 1904-5 he was feted as a national hero for his role in the capture of Port Arthur. He was also a man of letters and a renowned Kanshi poet a form of Han Chinese poetry popular amongst the Japanese elite during his life. Several of his poems were very popular during the early decades of the Twentieth century. In 1912 Nogi and his wife committed ritual suicide by seppuku shortly after the death of Emperor Meiji in accordance with the samurai practice of following one's master into death. At the time Nogi became a public symbol of loyalty and sacrifice and there are several Shinto shrines to his memory in Tokyo and Kyoto.<br /> <br /> Daikokuya was a multi-generational publisher of ukiyo-e prints illustrations and later illustrated books from 1764-1931 in Edo/Tokyo. Artists published during the nineteenth century include Utagawa Hiroshige. Daikokuya were quite successful during the late Meji era publishing many illustrated works relating to the Russo-Japanese War; perhaps explaining the inscription by Nogi.<br /> <br /> Rare. A lovely copy.<br /> <br /> § OCLC records no holdings. NIJL holds one copy.<br /> <br /> </p> Daikokuya unknown