Ando Hiroshige Woodblock Mannen Bridge, Fukagawa
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THIS STARTLING COMPOSITION IS DOUBTLESS the most contrived in a series known for its contrivances. First there is the complex frame, consisting in the foreground of a wooden bucket (which in Japanese style has a handle between vertical supports), and beyond that a section of railing of Mannen Bridge. Although neither of these frames make sense spatially, the juxtaposition of turtle bucket and bridge heightens their geographical relationship, for Mannen Bridge lay at the entrance to the Onagi Canal, running through the Fukagawa district, where turtles were bred for sale as pets. Another contrivance is the turtle itself. It was a common custom in Edo for breeders of eels, carp and turtles to offer their wares near well-traveled bridges, for release into the rivers or canals below, in the hope of building up positive karma for the buyer. This was in effect a commercialized version of a Buddhist ritual known as Hojo-e, a "releasing of life" ceremony experessive of the Buddhist injunction against the taking of life. It is often suggested that this print involves a verbal play, between the turtle as a conventional symbol of longevity in Chinese and Japanese lore, and the "10,000 years" (mannen) of the bridge in the title. It may well be, however, that such peddlers were actually to be found at the foot of Mannen Bridge, and that it was they, rather than Hiroshige, who were playing on the name of the bridge. The effect of the compostition is to contrast the close, confined world of the turtle with the broader world of the river beyond, into which it will soon be released. The depiction of the baby turtle itself is particularly fetching. Although dangling helplessly form its vendor's leash, it seems wholly relaxed, the listless curves of its two visible legs constrasting with the tense pose of the poling boatmen below. Perfectly posed between its closely framed little bucket-world and the river beyond, it seems an apt expression of late Edo itself, breaking out of its seclusion onto the stage of world history. -- Henry D. Smith II
Utagawa Hiroshige or Ando Hiroshige (1797-1858) was a Japanese artist during the 19th century and is considered the last great master of the ukiyo-e movement. His approach was more poetic and ambient than the typical ukiyo-e style, and his innovative compositions were a great influence to Western painters, such as Vincent van Gogh. The term ukiyo-e translates to "pictures of the floating world" and refers to a genre of Japanese art with a wide span of imagery such as kabuki actors, folk tales, landscapes, and even erotica. This movement was critical in forming the Western perception of Japanese art.
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Condition
Fine, no flaws
Buyer's Premium
- 10%
Ando Hiroshige Woodblock Mannen Bridge, Fukagawa
Estimate $250 - $350
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