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Nihonbashi: Morning View (Asa no kei)
Nihonbashi: Morning View (Asa no kei)
Public domain: Image courtesy of the Worcester Art Museum.

Nihonbashi: Morning View (Asa no kei)

Artist/Culture (Japanese, 1797–1858)
Publisher (Japanese)
Date1834
Mediumwoodblock print
Dimensions22.2 x 33 cm (8 3/4 x 13 in.)
ClassificationsPrints
Credit LineJohn Chandler Bancroft Collection
Object number1901.1033
DescriptionWAM's set of 53 stations on the Tokaido by Hiroshige - Hoeido edition. In comparing WAM's set to the published Honolulu Academy of Arts set, WAM's prints are later printings and impressions. The treatment of the sky and water, the subtlety and naturalistic placement of graded color are lacking in our set. As a result, the naturalism so important to the artist is lost as printers simplified the printing process and changed colors. In addition, WAM's set is less carefully printed. The effect is that the prints are flat when they should be illusionistic. Particular note should be mate of the following prints: SHINAGAWA 1901.1036 Totally different printing from HAA's 2nd state. KAMBARA 1901.1053 WAM's impression is similar to HAA's second state, but the black color in the sky is directly behind the roofs and mountains and not at top of sheet.
Label TextNihonbashi: Morning View (Asa no kei) from 53 Stations on the Tokaido Ando Hiroshige 1797-1858 Multicolor woodblock print, oban Artist signature: Hiroshige ga; seal: none Censor's seal: kiwame Publisher: Takemago, Tsuruki John Chandler Bancroft Collection 1901.1033 A daimy and his attendants cross Edo's Nihonbashi as they start off early in the morning on a journey to the daimy 's fief. The Nihonbashi district was the heart of the city's commerce. This bridge, symbol of the shogun's capital, is the point from which all distances were measured.
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