Art of Ukiyoe
Fine Japanese Prints
Masterpieces and rarities, from early Ukiyoe to Shin Hanga, all guaranteed original.
Our Newest
Utagawa Toyokuni III
Female abalone hunters of Ise Province making peeled abalones (1860)
三代目歌川豐国
伊勢の海士長鮑制図 (1860年)
Shotei Hokuju (1763–1824)
True Depiction of the Monkey Bridge in Kai Province
Featured Print:
A Bridge in the Clouds
The so-called “Monkey Bridge” in what was then Kai Province spans the Katsura River three days by foot from Tokyo (then Edo). It is famed as one of Japan’s Three Unusual Bridges, and was often depicted in Ukiyoe, including several times by Hiroshige.
It was said to have been built by Korean engineers in the mid-1400s, and exists today, although this one was built in the 1900s and reinforced with steel in the last century.
For my new featured print, I’m going to take a look at this wonderful and bold version of the Monkey Bridge by Shotei Hokuju, a student of Hokusai known for his modern, Western-style treatments of landscapes.
Hokuju is believed to have been born in 1763, and joined Hokusai’s studio around 1793. His most famous works predated the master’s most notable designs, though of course they never garnered as much fame.
He went all in here: billowing clouds give us distance and height, and the bridge – depicted as curving by others – is all bold straight lines. The artist creates a powerful geometric dynamic between the bridge, the almost-Cubist mountains and the clouds, and sets four tiny travelers, one on horseback, on the span. Their diminuitive scale only serves to increase the drama of the airborne bridge.
This is an early edition of this print, perhaps Hokuju’s most famous – later editions don't have the lower, billowy clouds. The color and impression is remarkably sharp.
You can visit the bridge today but, alas, it’s not as dramatic in reality as Hokuju, Hiroshige and others made it. It’s not nearly that far up in the air.
But why let the facts get in the way of a good story?
Sharon
Please mail, phone, Wechat or WhatsApp me. I'm happy to answer any questions. I’m also happy to send additional photographs.
This is only a limited selection of our prints.
To see more, please contact me.
如果您有兴趣购买版画，请通过邮件、电话、微信或WhatsApp与我联系，我将非常乐意回答任何相关品相问题。
本网站仅展示我部分藏品，如想欣赏更多画作，请与我联系。
How to Purchase
Learn more about payment and shipping, please click Here
Follow Us
