Night View of Matsuchi Hill and the San’ya Canal (Matsuchiyama San’yabori yakei), from the series "One Hundred Famous Views of Edo (Meisho Edo hyakkei)"

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FROM THE ART INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO’S CATALOG

Here, a woman walks along the San’ya Canal at night. Illuminated by a bright lantern, her face contrasts dramatically with the sky. The three-colored, square title cartouche in the upper-right corner indicates that this is the first edition of this design. The beautiful grain of the woodblock, clearly visible in the dark gray sky and blue water, is also a feature of early editions. In later versions, made from the worn woodblocks, the grain stands out less. This image is further enhanced by color gradation (bokashi) on the far shore.

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