Hiroshige -- "Maid with a Sake Flask"

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Artist Hiroshige (ANDO) (1797-1858)
Title "Maid with a Sake Flask" (given name)
Date c1850
Series Three album shunga set titled "Brocades of Edo, Library of Azuma" ("Edo Nishiki, Azuma Bunko")
Publisher Privately printed.
Seal, Carver/Printer na
Image Size 7 1/2 x 11 diptych (two 7 1/2 x 5 1/2+ sheets joined)
Impression Excellent. Nicely visible "woodgrain" to brown wooden walkway (confirming original); nicely executed "bokashi" shading; extremely crisp "key-lines," highly detailed carving.
Condition Excellent. Fresh, unfaded colors. Absolutely flawless. (Two sheets joined and backed onto a card.)
Reference/Illus "Shunga - The Erotic Art of Japan" (Fagioli), pg 159, pl#173 and book's back jacket-cover. Quoting Fagioli, "(originally) attributed to Kuniyoshi, and only recently attributed to the catalogue of Hiroshige....(this shunga set) represents without a doubt the masterpiece of the genre of the erotic print....rarely practiced by the artist."
Comments Original "shunga" prints by Hiroshige are very rare and are considered highly desirable to collecors.
Item # CG-986
Price $675 (Sold)