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Asuka Hill in Edo (Tôto Asukayama), from the series Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji (Fuji sanjûrokkei)


「富士三十六景 東都飛鳥山」
Utagawa Hiroshige I (Japanese, 1797–1858)
Publisher: Tsutaya Kichizô (Kôeidô) (Japanese)
Japanese
Edo period
1858 (Ansei 5), 4th month

Medium/Technique Woodblock print (nishiki-e); ink and color on paper
Dimensions Vertical ôban; 35.9 x 24.8 cm (14 1/8 x 9 3/4 in.)
Credit Line William Sturgis Bigelow Collection
Accession Number11.26315
NOT ON VIEW
ClassificationsPrints
One of the most popular spots in Edo for cherry-blossom viewing was Asuka Hill, where in good weather visitors could see not only the blossoms, but the scenic cone of Mount Fuji rising in the far background. The parasols in the distance probably belong to a group of courtesans from the Yoshiwara, who made an annual excursion to view the flowers and show off their finery to other visitors.

Catalogue Raisonné Ukiyo-e shûka 14 (1981), Hiroshige list, p. 250, ôban #58.21
DescriptionMFA impressions: 11.26315, 11.39205, 21.5296
Signed Hiroshige ga
広重画
Marks Censor's seal: Horse 4
No blockcutter's mark
改印:午四
彫師:なし
ProvenanceBy 1911, purchased by William Sturgis Bigelow (b. 1850 - d. 1926), Boston [see note 1]; 1911, gift of Bigelow to the MFA. (Accession Date: August 3, 1911)

NOTES:
[1] Much of Bigelow's collection of Asian art was formed during his residence in Japan between 1882 and 1889, although he also made acquisitions in Europe and the United States. Bigelow deposited many of these objects at the MFA in 1890 before donating them to the Museum's collection at later dates.