Description
Important original woodblock print made in 1804 by Katsushika Hokusai (葛飾北斎) and dedicated to the Kanaya station (金谷宿), in today’s Shizuoka Prefecture (静岡県), of the Tokaido road (東海道). As often happens, also on this occasion the artist, author of several series of prints having as subject the famous route, does not focus on the landscape but on the human figures that animated the stations: in this case two women who, inside the inn “Sayononakayama Ame no Mochi” (小夜の中山 飴能餅), are preparing a rice cake typical of that place, while a traveler’s horse rests near the door.
In the upper right corner of the precious work we can read the complete title, “Kanaya, at a distance of 1 ri and 29 cho from Shinsaka” (金谷 新坂へ壱リ廿九丁), as well as the signature “Gakyojin Hokusai ga” (画狂人北斎画).
The print on Japanese washi paper (和紙), despite the right signs of aging including slight fold marks, some tiny holes and in particular binding holes as well as a small restoration in the title inset, is in fair condition.
