Page 171 - 2021 March 16th Japanese and Korean Art, Christie's New York City

156 UTAGAWA HIROSHIGE (1797-1858)

Oji shozoku enoki omisoka
no kitsunebi (New Year's Eve

foxfires at nettle tree, Oji)

Woodblock print, from the series Meisho Edo
hyakkei (One hundred views of Edo), signed
Hiroshige ga, dated sealed Snake 9 (1857, 9th
month), published by Uoya Eikichi
Vertical oban: 13√ x 9º in. (35.2 x 23.5 cm.)

$4,000-6,000

In the evening of New Year's Eve, foxes with flame-like
phosphorescence gather under a hackberry tree in
a gathering called Shozoku enoki near Oji Inari (Fox)
Shrine in Edo. After purifying themselves under this tree,
foxes visit Oji Inari Shrine to receive the divine message
for the New Year’s Day. This is the sole work depicting
a fantastical subject from this series. In this print,
Hiroshige intentionally outlined the foxes on the ground
sharply and precisely while other elements are treated
indistinctly in the dark of night which emphasizes the
fantastical atmosphere of this work.