Yamashiro Arashiyama Togetsukyo / Shokoku Meikyo Kiran

Autumn Foliage

Medium:: Woodblock print
Format:: Oban
Source:: British Museum

Typical Price

Later reprint (Meiji–Taisho era publishers): $100–$600
Good later impression (Edo-period, worn block lines): $5,000–$20,000
Good early impression (sharp lines, strong color): $15,000–$60,000
Fine early impression (exceptional clarity and condition): $60,000–$150,000

From Hokusai's Remarkable Views of Bridges in Various Provinces (c.1834), an 11-print series showcasing engineering feats from across Japan. The Kintai Bridge and Suspension Bridge designs command the highest prices.

Description

The Togetsu-kyo ("Moon-crossing Bridge") at Arashiyama in Yamashiro Province — the scenic mountain district west of Kyoto — appears in this plate from the Shokoku Meikyo Kiran (Famous Bridges) series. Arashiyama's combination of the Oi River, maple forests, and this celebrated wooden bridge made it one of the most painted landscapes in Japan, and Hokusai brings his distinctive geometric energy to the composition.