Series : One Hundred Views of Fuji, Fugaku Hyakkei
Technique: nishikie, woodcuts in two shades of gray.
Format: hanshinbon koban diptych (about 183x253 mm)
Signatures : Zen Hokusai Iitsu aratame Gakyorojin Manji
Artist's seal : Fuji no Yama
Dates : engraved between 1834 – 1836, impressed between 1850 and 1870
Engravers: Egawa Tomekichi and Tsentaro
Publisher: Katano Toshiro.
Splendid proof with good contrasts, in the third edition from the original woodcuts. Printed on Japan paper, in excellent condition, with clean edges all around beyond the marginal line.
Bibliography:
Calza GC Hokusai, the old fool for painting , Milan 1999-2000, London, 2003.
Calza GC Hokusai, the hundred views of Fuji , Milan, 1982.
Dickins FV Fugaku hiyaku-kei: one hundred view of Fuji by Hokusai , London, 1880.
Forrer M. Hokusai, prints and drawings , London, 1991.
Hillier J. The art of Hokusai in book illustration , London, 1980.
Lane R. Hokusai, life and works , Milan, 1991.
Salamon Villa T., The hundred views of Fuji, Turin, 1975.
Smith II H. Hokusai: one hundred view of Fuji by Hokusai, London, 1988.
From a location near Edo it is possible, at sunset, to see the sun perfectly positioned in a crown on the top of Fuji, with the rays drawing the very symbol of Japan, the Rising Sun.
In modern times, the allegorical and stylized figure of the sun with crowned rays in bright red on a white field, constitutes the naval ensign of Japan.
The salt drying containers suggest the identification of the location, near Gyotoku or Kisarazu in Edo Bay, famous places for the preparation of salt.
A table full of humanity: the mooring of the fishing boat, the fisherman on the gangway with the barbell carrying his meal package and the flask of sake, the dog sniffing the fishing basket.