Utagawa Hiroshige (1797-1858)
Bikuni Bridge in Snow (Bikunibashi setchu), from the series One Hundred Famous Views of Edo (Meisho Edo hyakkei), 1858, 10th month
Woodblock print
Vertical oban:
35.5 x 24.6 cm
14 x 9 3/4 in
35.5 x 24.6 cm
14 x 9 3/4 in
Signed: Hiroshige ga
Publisher: Uoya Eikichi
Sealed: Horse 10 (1858, 10th month)
Publisher: Uoya Eikichi
Sealed: Horse 10 (1858, 10th month)
Sold
A peddler carrying boxes trudges ankle-deep in snow across Bikuni Bridge under which water flows from the outer moat of Edo Castle (its stone wall visible on the right) into...
A peddler carrying boxes trudges ankle-deep in snow across Bikuni Bridge under which water flows from the outer moat of Edo Castle (its stone wall visible on the right) into Kyobashi River. On the right a shop sign indicates the entrance to a sweet potato stall and the smell of the potatoes has caused some dogs to gather outside. On the left side is a large sign reading Mountain Whale (山くじら), which was in fact a euphemism for wild boar meat. During the Edo period people were not supposed to eat mean. However there clearly seems to have been a market for it, albeit somewhat disguised.
For a similar impression in the collection of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, accession no. 21.10446, go to:
https://collections.mfa.org/objects/238065
For another impression in the collection of The British Museum, museum no. 1948,0410,0.86, go to:
https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/A_1948-0410-0-86
For a similar impression in the collection of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, accession no. 21.10446, go to:
https://collections.mfa.org/objects/238065
For another impression in the collection of The British Museum, museum no. 1948,0410,0.86, go to:
https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/A_1948-0410-0-86