Comment - View of Kasumigaseki (霞ヶ関眺望) shows a lovely morning view of Kasummigaseki Street (today Kasumigaseki-zaka), on New Year's Day. The rooftops of Edo can be seen in the distance, with sails dotting the ocean beyond. Celebrants make their way up the slope and four Edo kites ("Edo-tako", "江戸凧") fly overhead. A small red Yakko kite ("yakko dako", "奴凧") is to be seen directly over the rooftops of the city (center). The street is lined by the guardhouse of residence of Asano, formerly samurai barracks of the Kuroda clan. The street is leading directly to Edo Bay. "Kadomatsu" gate pines and "manzai" stand-up comedians and a lion dancer indicate a setting around New Year. Beautiful view from Hiroshige's "Famous Places in Edo", with a decent bokashi shading.

The title (red cassette, upper right) contains the series title (upper part) and the are somewhat in mixed Kanji and Hiragana characters. There are at least three versions of nearly the same street scenes. One with kites (see above), another one with bubbles from a pubble pipe and yet a version at dawn with a red sky. Some of them even with the same title from the same publisher.

A version also in "landscape" with kites depicting the same scene was made by "HIROSHIGE II" (SHIGENOBU"), the former pupil and heir of HIROSHIGE ("I"). This one is very elaborate with fine details, a lot of kites, and is signed with "HIROSHIGE-ga", but made by HIROSHIGE II (SHIGENOBU).

Another version of this successful series by HIROSHIGE himself, one of the most often cited HIROSHIGE woodblocks, depicting about the same scene in vertical ('portrait') version, is to be found as the Number 2 print from the successful series of "One Hundred Famous Views of Edo" (Meisho Edo Hyakkei, 名所江戸百景). This print is named "Kasumigaseki" instead of "View of Kasumigaseki".


Reprint- The above 1918 reprint has more clear colours and features, than the origninal of 1839-1842, but the setting is identical.


Series - "Famous Places in Edo" (Toto Meisho, 東都名所 or Etsu Mesho, 江都名所) . Another print with kites from the same series shows the "Tenjin-Shrine at Yushima". More about HIROSHIGE's series are to be found here.


Artist - see Biography


Signature - Hiroshige ga (広重画) above the red publishers seal


Publisher - Kawaoto (川音), red seal (Reprint)


Image Size - 21.9  x  34.5 cm    (8 3/4" x 13 3/8")


Condition - single sheet; nishiki-e (cloured woodblock); Horizontal ôban; Yoko-e ('landscape')


(compare different versions)