Description
Important polychrome woodblock print of large horizontal format, made between 1832 and 1838 by the famous artist Utagawa Hiroshige (歌川広重). The work is taken from the series “Famous Places in the Eastern Capital” (東都名所) and is titled “Depiction of Red Maple Leaves at Kaianji temple” (海案寺紅葉ノ図).
Founded in 1251 following the discovery of a statue of Kannon (観音) in the stomach of a shark, the Kaianji temple (海案寺), which in the ancient Edo (江戸) was immediately behind the Tokyo Bay (東京湾), was a famous place to admire the cherry blossoms. However, it was also much appreciated for the beauty of the autumn leaves visible in the park adjacent to the temple, which we see depicted in this print.
The work, produced by the publisher Sanoya Kihei (佐野屋喜兵衛), owner of Kikakudo (喜鶴堂), presents the right signs of aging including stains and minor restorations.
