Works of Ukiyo-e Master Utagawa Hiroshige Come to Auction

Utagawa Hiroshige was a prominent ukiyo-e master known for his woodblock prints. The artist was born in Edo and took up painting at the age of 14. In 1811, Utagawa Hiroshige started learning painting under artist Utagawa Toyohiro. His early works mainly featured typical ukiyo-e subjects like kabuki actors. After the death of his teacher in the 1830s, Hiroshige’s work underwent a radical shift. He started creating landscapes, flowers, and bird prints, for which he became famous.

The upcoming Brunk Auctions event presents several woodblock prints of sea creatures and landscapes by Utagawa Hiroshige. This woodblock print series is also known as “Uozukushi,” meaning every variety of fish. This auction includes a late 19^th century, untitled series of twenty large fish prints. Each one of the available works has an Ichiryusai seal. They also feature poems written in calligraphic text. Woodblock prints by the ukiyo-e master often included distinct colors that influenced Western artists like Claude Monet.

Also showcased are three Chinese sang-de-boeuf floor vases with blue underglaze. The vases feature six-character Kangxi marks and have oxblood red exteriors and white-glazed interiors. The sang-de-boeuf ceramic glaze was first created at the start of the 18^th century in the porcelain kilns of Jingdezhen during the Kangxi period. The flambé glaze offers varying decorative effects.

The auction also highlights Chinese Dayazhai-style garden stools from the late Qing dynasty. The enamel-painted stools depict dragons, hibiscus blossoms, and chrysanthemums on a yellow foreground. The auction also offers works by Paul Jacoulet and Hiroshi Yoshida, Federal and British furniture pieces, a Sumac mat, Asian arts, jewelry, and silverware. Interested collectors can explore the full listings and register to bid online on Bidsquare.