Description
Double-page woodblock printed illustration made by the famous artist Katsushika Hokusai (葛飾北斎) and dedicated to Kameido Tenjin (亀井戸天神), the shrine in modern Tokyo where the patron deity of scholarship is worshiped and which is known in particular for the beauty of the blooms of both its pink plum trees in late winter and purple wisteria in spring, the latter depicted in this print.
The woodcut is taken from the vol. 1 (上) of the “Fine Views of the Eastern Capital at a Glance” (東都勝景一覧), a work originally produced in January 1800 by the publisher Tsutaya Juzaburo (蔦屋重三郎) and subsequently republished, in September 1815, by the publisher Hishiya Kinbei (菱屋金兵衛) to whom the original wooden blocks had been sold.
The print on Japanese washi paper (和紙), despite the obvious signs of aging including wrinkles, slight stains and small holes, is in overall fair condition, thanks also to an effective relining carried out on the back.
