Preliminary identification
Photo reference
5 uploaded photos
Overview
An original Japanese ukiyo-e woodblock print by the legendary master Utagawa Hiroshige, from his celebrated series 'Famous Views of the Sixty-odd Provinces'. This dynamic composition depicts fishermen hauling in nets on the sweeping, sandy arc of Kujukuri Beach in Kazusa Province under a beautifully graded sky.
Story
In 1853, the same year Commodore Perry's black ships arrived in Japan, Hiroshige published this serene view of Kujukuri Beach. It shows fishermen harvesting sardines, a vital industry that literally fueled Edo's agricultural boom as fertilizer.
Maker / Origin
Utagawa Hiroshige (1797–1858) was one of the last great masters of the ukiyo-e school, renowned for revolutionizing landscape prints with atmospheric effects of weather, light, and season. His innovative compositions, characterized by bold framing and delicate color gradations, deeply influenced European Impressionist and Post-Impressionist painters like Vincent van Gogh and Claude Monet.
Condition & Value
The print appears to be in good overall condition with strong colors, particularly the Prussian blue in the ocean. There is some minor toning and light wear consistent with age along the edges, but the image area remains clean and vibrant. The margins appear slightly trimmed but mostly intact.
Full Research
Sold comps, value drivers, and venue guidance pulled from recent auction results.
Build on this identification
Layer in sold comps, value drivers, and venue guidance.
Comparable demand stays strongest where maker, originality, and venue confidence line up. Broader examples still trade, but the range tightens quickly when provenance, condition, or selling lane fit is missing.
Best Venue
Specialty auction or a focused dealer with buyers already in this lane.
Signed example with light edge wear and original frame.
Comparable format with stronger provenance and cleaner surface.
Smaller related piece with visible craquelure and trimmed margins.
Period match with softer condition and weaker subject matter.
Close market lane comp with similar material and presentation.