Hachiman Shrine, Ichigaya

Medium:: Woodblock print
Format:: Oban
Source:: Art Gallery of Greater Victoria

Typical Price

Later reprint (Meiji–Taisho era publishers): $50–$400
Good later impression (Edo-period): $1,500–$6,000
Good early impression (vivid color and detail): $6,000–$25,000
Fine early impression (exceptional condition and freshness): $25,000–$70,000

Hiroshige's images of Edo life—temples, bridges, markets, and seasonal celebrations—are valuable historical documents as well as masterpieces of design. His depictions of the city he loved made him the preeminent chronicler of Edo culture in prints.

Description

The Hachiman Shrine at Ichigaya, in the hilly western districts of Edo, was a popular destination for residents seeking both religious observance and views over the city. Hiroshige's print shows the shrine precinct with its stone torii gate and forested hillside, framing the kind of sacred-natural space that punctuated the dense urban fabric of the capital.