Edo prints


  Design: Shōtei Hokuju (1763–1824)  
  Title: View of Ryōgoku bridge  
  Series title: The Eastern capital  
  Size: 24.8 x 38.5 cm (ōban)  
  Posthumous printing from newly cut woodblocks    
  Photography: Jacques Commandeur
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Hokuju View of Ryogoku bridge

Enlargement


Originally published in the 1820s by Nishimuraya Yohachi (firm name Eijudō). This edition from newly carved blocks was published by Adachi.

The view in this print is from the westbank of the Sumida river in Edo. In the foreground we see the main street of Hirokōji. The pointed roof visible in the distance right across Ryōkogu bridge is that of Muenji temple, also known as Ekō-in. On the eastbank on the right we also see the wood stored in a timber yard in Fukagawa. In the far distance on the left is Okura bridge. For more details about this view, please visit my Ehon Sumidagawa website.

Artist’s signature in left print area:

Character Reading Meaning Translation
       
shō rise up  
tei pavilion  
hoku north  
ju longevity Picture by
ga picture Shōtei Hokuju

Series and print title in the upper right area of the print:

Character Reading Meaning Translation
       
east  
to capital The Eastern capital
       
ryō both  
goku province  
no ’s  
air  
kei view View of Ryōgoku bridge

Round censorship seal reading kiwame (‘approved’), and Eiju han seal, see Marks (2011, p. 67, seal number 23-016), of the original publisher Nishimuraya Yohachi in bottom left print area.


References


Provenance: Fuji Arts

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