Katsushika HOKUSAI (1760-1849)

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New Year’s Day with a view of Mount Fuji seen down Suruga Street with the Echigoya Mitsui store on the left and right. Edo Surugacho Mitsui mise ryakuzu, “The Mitsui Shop at Surugacho, Edo.” From Hokusai’s most famous set: Fugaku sanjurokkei, “Thirty-six Views of Fuji.” Surugacho district was located just north of Nihonbash Bridge. One of the largest stores was the Echigoya Mitsui Clothing Store, now known as Mitsukoshi. On the left a sign states that the store sells braided cords and threads, and on the right that it sells clothing. It also announces that it takes cash payment: The store was the first to adopt cash payment at the point of sale, rather than billing clients once or twice a year, hence they could cut their prices. The set published 1830-34 by Nishimuraya Yohachi. There are variant states of this design with the blue wiped across the top of the design only, wiped top and at horizon and wiped at top with the entire sky printed blue (as here). This is the earliest version.

Very fine early impression. Fine colour. Slight centre fold, otherwise fine condition. Full, untrimmed size. Signed Zen Saki no Hokusa aratame hitsu.

Status: Sold