Utagawa Hiroshige

1797-1858

Thirty-Six Views of Mt. Fuji: no. 5, Ochanomizu in the Eastern Capital
(Fuji Sanjurokkei: Toto Ochanomizu)

signed Hiroshige ga with publisher's seal of Koeido (Tsutaya Kichizo) and dates seal of Uma-yon (year of the horse, fourth month), ca. 1858

oban tate-e 14 by 9 1/4 in., 35.7 by 23.4 cm

The area of Ochanomizu (lit. 'tea water') is named for the Kanda River, an aqueduct cut through the Kanda mountain, not, as the name suggests, because the water was unclear, but because its proximity to a well at the Korin-ji temple which was so pure it was known as a preferred source for the shogun's tea.

References:
Goto Kenichiro, Kubo Tsunehiko and Sons Collection, Second Term: Ukiyo-e Hanga Edo-e Hen, 2009, p. 133, no. 100-5
Art Institute Chicago, Clarence Buckingham Collection, reference nos. 1965.927, and 1979.1287
The British Museum, Ernest Abraham Hart Collection, registration no. 1902,0212,0.396.8
Chazen Museum of Art, John H. Van Vleck Collection, accession no. 1980.1409
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston (mfa.org), from the Bigelow Collection, accession no. 11.26312

(inv. no. C-3672)

price: $5,500