UTAGAWA HIROSHIGE (1797-1858)

UTAGAWA HIROSHIGE (1797-1858)
KISOJI NO YAMAKAWA (MOUNTAIN RIVER ON THE KISO ROAD)
EDO PERIOD, 19TH CENTURY

A Japanese woodblock print triptych, signed Hiroshige hitsu and sealed on the right sheet, published by Okazawaya Taheiji on the 8th month of 1857, (L) 37.8cm x 26cm, (C) 37.9cm x 26cm, (R) 37.7cm x 26.1cm.

Provenance: a private English collection, Heath House, Hampshire. The same collection includes a Louis XVI bureau plat which was originally the working desk of the French Emperor Napoleon III.

This triptych belongs to a series created by Hiroshige depicting monumental landscape panoramas and illustrating the concepts of snow, moon and cherry blossoms (Setsugekka). The theme comes from this poem composed by Chinese writer Bo Juyi (772-846): 'In snow, moon, and cherry blossoms, I think of you'.