Circa Edo Period, A Rare Crepe Print By Utagawa Hiroshige II Famous Nunobiki Waterfall In Settsu Province

Edo Period- The Nunobiki Waterfall in Settsu Province (Sesshû Nunobiki no taki), from the series One Hundred Famous Views in the Various Provinces (Shokoku meisho hyakkei). 「諸国名所百景　摂州布引の滝, Utagawa Hiroshige II (Shigenobu) (Japanese, 1826–1869); Publisher: Uoya Eikichi (Japanese); 1859 (Ansei 6), 5th month. Medium/Technique Woodblock print (nishiki-e); ink and color on paper. Dimensions Vertical ôban; 33.5 x 21.9 cm (13 3/16 x 8 5/8 in.). Ukiyo-e crepe prints, also known as chirimengami-e (compressed thread paper prints), were produced at least as early as 1800 in Edo (modern-day Tokyo). These prints were popular throughout the 19th century and were used occasionally for alternate states of some ukiyo-e designs. Circa 1859.

Reference: 301-001-CA
Estimate: $300-$400
Shipping: $15.00 within USA with USPS. Overseas, contact us.
Condition: Good, not checked out of the frame but a close-up inspection revealed the Crepe format of print. The back strip also says this piece was produced in 1800 as a special edition, making it quite rare.

Fifty-three Stations on the Tokaido. A set of fifty-five (including prints for the starting point at Yedo and arrival at Kyoto). Publishers, Senkakudo and Hoyeido for the greater part of the 1st edition, which -was finished by the Hoyeido firm alone. The series was completed in the 1st month of Tempo 5 (1834) and then republished in book form by Takenouchi-Hoyeido. Engraver, Jirobei; Printer, Heibei (see No. 36). Prints on crepe (sometimes called pancake papers) are to be put with inks. Crepe is a silk paper fabric.

Regular Block Printing (Woodblock Printing)
Process: The traditional method where the artist creates a design that is carved into wooden blocks. These blocks are then inked and pressed onto paper to produce the print.

Texture: The paper used in regular block printing is typically smooth and flat.

Usage: This method was standard for creating most ukiyo-e prints, from famous series to individual pieces.

Detail: Regular woodblock prints maintain sharp, clear lines and details, crucial for depicting intricate designs and scenes.

Crepe Printing (Chirimengami-e)
Process: After a print is created using the regular block printing method, the paper is dampened and mechanically compressed to create a unique, crinkled texture.

Texture: The resulting print has a distinctive, textured surface, resembling crepe fabric, giving it a tactile quality.

Usage: Crepe prints were often used for special editions, souvenirs, or as playful variations of existing prints. They were less common and more of a novelty.

Detail: The compression process can sometimes blur or alter the finer details of the original woodblock print, giving it a more diffused appearance.

In essence, while both methods start with the traditional woodblock printing technique, crepe printing adds an extra step that alters the texture and appearance of the final artwork. This makes crepe prints a unique and collectible variant within the world of ukiyo-e.

Notes: Not removed from frame but in fine condition. The crepe structure can be seen on close examination

$250 - $350

13" x 0.01" x 9"

Fine Art, Works on Paper

15%

Richard Gabriel | (781) 883-6639 | gabriel@calixbooks.com

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