Katsushika Hokusai – Viewing the Sunset over Ryogoku Bridge from the Onmaya Embankment (Katsushika Hokusai – Onmayagashi yori Ryogokubashi sekiyo o miru)

Woodblock print (reprint). The first edition of this design was published circa 1830. The current print was printed in the Showa period (1926 – 1989).

A diverse group of men crosses the Sumida River on a ferry at the end of the day. The sun is setting, with some men capturing the view, while others are already dozing off after what was presumably a hard day of work. The design is part of Katsushika Hokusai’s series “Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji” and indeed, Mount Fuji stands sharply against the sky, with the Ryogoku Bridge before it, as if leading to it.

The current print is a reprint from newly carved blocks in the 20th century. It is well done, but quite different from the first editions.

Image size (excluding margins): 37.0 * 24.1 cm (14.6 * 9.5 in).

The print is in good state, but with signs of aging.

The pictures shown here are from the print itself.

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Katsushika Hokusai (1760 – 1849) was one of the most famous Japanese woodblock artists. He became an artist at a young age, lived a long life, and kept working continuously, leading to a wide body of work of such high quality that he is considered to be among the greatest artists ever.

See an overview of Katsushika Hokusai's woodblock prints