Page 147 - September 21 2021 Important Japanese Art Christie's NYC

206 UTAGAWA HIROSHIGE (1797-1858)

Awa, Natuto no fuha (Wind and

waves at Naruto, Awa Province)

Woodblock print, from the series Rokujuyoshu
meisho zue (Pictures of famous places in the
sixty-odd provinces), signed Hiroshige hitsu,
published by Koshimuraya Heisuke, 9th month
1855
Vertical oban: 14¿ x 9¬ in. (35.9 x 24.4 cm.)

$20,000-30,000

The sweeping view of the whirlpools at Naruto, depicting a
distant view of the mountains stretched to the horizon and the
foams of the famous whirlpool rapids at Naruto in foreground.
Hiroshige worked on this subject several times including
Awa Naruto no fukei (View of the whirlpools at Naruto, Awa
province), the masterpiece triptych work from the artis'ts last
series concerning snow, moon and flowers (setsugekka) published
in 1857. According to Suzuki Juzo in Rokujuyoshu Meisho Zue
by Hiroshige collected by prof. Gerhard Pulverer (Tokyo: Iwanami
Shoten, 1996), the powerful composition with perspective and
the dramatic depictions of waves and rocks shown in this work
may suggest the influence of Katsushika Hokusai.