Hiroshige woodblock print
Utagawa Hiroshige New Year's Eve Foxfires at the Changing Tree. May be original in good condition on rice paper? in a frame with glass. I bought it at a private estate sale of a friend. The friend's aunt was an epidemiologist who worked in Asian countries in the early 1900s.
print about 9 1/2 inches by 14 1/4 inches
Other
Yes
Hello, this item is a woodblock print titled New Year’s Eve Foxfires at the Changing Tree, Oji by Utagawa Hiroshige (1797–1858), one of the most prominent ukiyo-e masters of the Edo period. This print belongs to his celebrated One Hundred Famous Views of Edo series, published between 1856 and 1859. The composition depicts fox spirits gathering under a tree, a scene tied to Japanese folklore and seasonal symbolism. The dark tonal range, red cartouches, and balanced spatial design are hallmarks of Hiroshige’s mature style.
Authenticity is crucial in valuing Hiroshige prints. Originals from the 1850s are on thin washi (not rice paper), slightly faded with some wood grain impression, and may bear censor or publisher seals. The colors in this example appear rich, possibly suggesting a later edition or a reprint from the early 20th century or even post-war revival editions. If it is an early 20th-century reprint (which is common), the value would more likely be in the $300 to $800 USD range.
I may have given a confusing description of the print. The print may be thin washi on some kind of brown paper. The brown paper is what I was describing as rice paper. I am not sure what kind of paper the print is made of. Are you able to tell from the pictures what kind of paper the print is made of?