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.

An overview of the woodblock prints by Katsushika Hokusai can be found here.

See an overview of Katsushika Hokusai's woodblock prints