Utagawa Kuniyasu, "Summer Festival on the Sumida River"

During the hot summer months, residents of Edo (Tokyo) would gather on the Sumida River to enjoy the warm evenings and celebrate the season. Crowding the bridges, such as the Ryogoku Bridge shown in this woodblock print triptych, and embarking on pleasure boats, Edo's residents would revel while fireworks lit up the night sky. A rare and fascinating glimpse at life during Edo-period Japan and a marvelous example of so-called Western "genre painting" in Japanese design. In the center is the Kawaichimaru, one of the most prominent palace boats (yakatabune) to grace the river's water.

Date: ca. 1820s
Format: Oban Triptych (each sheet approx. 9" x 14")
Publisher: Omiya Heihachi
Condition: Wear on edges, toning, otherwise very good condition

Utagawa Kuniyasu (1794-1832) was a pupil of the Utagawa School and of Toyokuni I. Fairly prolific in the woodblock print genre, Kuniyasu died at a young age, but his designs remain popular and well-known today.