100 Views of Edo # 74 by Ando Hiroshige

Artist: Ando Utagawa Hiroshige (1787-1858)

Woodblock Prints Title: 100 Views of Edo #74 Silk-Goods Lane, Ôdenma-chô

1st Publication: July 1858

Size: 13-1/4 x 8-5/8 + Margins as shown

Date of this edition: July 1858

Publisher: Uoya Eikichi

Condition: Near Mint. Slightly trimmed on the left side, affecting the seals. Else, in perfect condition.

Notes: Here we see a boisterous procession of carpenters, among the most powerful artisans in Edo, a city built of wood. To the left is the great dry-goods house of Daimaru, in the prosperous district of Ōdenma-chō, suggesting the interlocked fortunes of Edo merchants and Edo builders.

The shop sign to the upper left bears the slogan "Cash payment, prices as marked." This practice, established in Japan as early as 1683, broke down the traditional class-based relationships between seller and buyer, making all customers equal.

Pictures: Pictures are taken outdoor, in the shade, to reflect true colors, without any enhancements of any kind. The last picture is taken indoor, with a light behind the print, to reveal the exact paper grain, holes if any, or other possible flaws.