Traditional scenes of Tokyo by Hiroshige II and Kunisada

Thirty six Edo Interests - Jiman Sanjû-Roku Kyô

江戸自慢三十六興

Hiroshige II and Kunisada (Toyokuni III)

Printed by Hiranoya Sinzo in 1864

Oban format - 35.5 x 25cm

Title page plus 32 (of 36) prints

Condition - Beautiful bold colours with no fading to these unbacked prints. Wormholes to the edges of a few prints with minor restoration to the image. Unbacked prints in accordion format with silk covers. Creases to a few unbacked prints.

Following the success of Hiroshige I and Kunisada’s collaborative work - ”The twin brushes 53 stations of the Tokaido Road" - this series combined beautiful backgrounds by Hiroshige II alongside images of figures by Kunisada. The album sought to celebrate daily life and festivities in the capital city, and includes images of life around Edo - modern day Tokyo. The compositions use vibrant blues and reds with the traditional artistic style used by the Hiroshige artists. Memorable images in the series include a man punting across a river in the snow, and a firework scene from the a pleasure boat.

Hiroshige II (1826-1869) married Hiroshige’s daughter, and inherited Hiroshige I’s name on his death in 1858. He was heavily influenced by Hiroshige's style and his prints mainly focus on traditional Japanese landscapes. As Hiroshige had before him, he collaborated with Kunisada, the most famous Ukiyo-e artist of Kabuki artists, who designed the figures in his prints.