Page 360 - japanese and korean art Utterberg Collection Christie's March 22 2022

218
UTAGAWA HIROSHIGE (1797-1858)
Kisoji no yamakawa (Mountain river on the
Kiso Road)
Woodblock print, triptych, signed Hiroshige hitsu on
the right sheet, published by Okazawaya Taheiji,
8th month 1857
Vertical oban triptych: 14æ x 10º in. (37.5 x 26
cm.) right and left sheets, 14¡ x 9√ in. (36.3 x 24.9
cm.) middle sheet (3)

$20,000-30,000

A sweeping panoramic view of the Kiso River
blanketed in thick winter snow. The sparse palette
of paper white, deep blue, and a soft ink tone,
serve to accentuate the immensity of the snowfall
in this dramatic landscape. The narrow gorge
by the Kiso River is one of the most strenuous
stretches of the Kisokaido Road. Hiroshige
conveys the sheer scale of the rough vertiginous
path through the clusters of towering mountains,
with the most central peak extending beyond the
frame of the composition. This print is generally
believed to represent the ‘snow’ installment of
the artist’s last series concerning snow, moon and
flowers (setsugekka), three acknowledged forms of
natural beauty. The other two in the series are
Moon at Kanazawa, and Whirlpools at Awa.