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KIYOCHIKA, Kobayashi   (fl. 1847 - 1915)		Ryôgoku Fire Sketched from Hama-chô (Hama-chô yori utsusu Ryôgoku taika)
		Signed:                     Kobayashi Kiyochika hitsu Publisher:                Fukuda Kumajirô Date:                         1881 Size:                          ôban yoyk-e (c. xx x xx cms / c. xx x/x" x xx") Condition: Fine impression and color, faint cenerfold, thin backing, else in fine condition. ref. no.:  # 743394 Price:  € 2,800

The inscription at b.r. says: "Outbreak of fire on January 26, 1871" (Meiji yonen ichigatsu nijûroku-nichi shukka). "The logical extreme of Kiyochika's preoccupation with light was his attraction to the large fires that periodically swept the city of Tokyo. His sketchbooks record at least four different conflagrations, each quite spectacular ..." (op.cit.) - Kiyochika is well-know for his spectacular night scenes of Tokyo, many of which are illustrated in the excellent (and highly recommended) exhibition catalog of the Santa Barbara Musuem of Art, of the year 1988 (pls. see below). Reference: Henri D. Smith II, KIYOCHIKA - Artist of Meiji Japan; Santa Barbara Museum of Art, 1988; this design ill. pp. 50-51.

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