WILD GEESE (Utagawa Toyohiro)

N.1 ukiyo-e woodblock print
Period: 1801-04
Condition: good
Size: 17 x 23 cm

SOLD

Description

Important woodblock print depicting two flying wild geese, sumizuri-e (墨摺絵) monochrome version of a work signed “Toyohiro ga” (豊廣画), that is by Utagawa Toyohiro (歌川豊広), pupil of Toyoharu (豊春), founder of the Utagawa school (歌川派), one of the most important schools of the ukiyo-e (浮世絵) genre, and in turn teacher of the famous artist Hiroshige (広重).

The works of Utagawa Toyohiro (1773-1828) include many representations of flowers, birds and landscapes, as well as daily activities in the Yoshiwara (吉原) pleasure district. His modest and refined taste helped to form the style of Hiroshige, and led the genius of the latter to find its full expression in the genre of landscape prints.

The rare print on Japanese washi paper (和紙), made in all probability during the Kyowa (享和) era, despite the right signs of aging and the presence of some restored wormholes, is in overall good condition.