'Act VIII' from the play 'Hachidanme' from the rarely seen Series 'The Storehouse Treasury of Loyal Retainers'.  This woodblock print depicts Wasaka's wife, Tonase and her daughter Konami, on the right, tended by her maid.  They are traveling on foot from Edo to Yamashima to meet with Rikiya in the hope of reaffirming the betrothal of the young couple. Instead of the usual setting of the rocky seacoast near Tago Bay, Hiroshige provides a background similar to landscapes in some of his Tokaido images, from the same period. Mt. Fuji is in the background, and Hiroshige adds other travelers who would be present on the popular Tokaido Road journey. As the story goes, the two women pause briefly, Konami seems to wonder if her love will last longer than the snow on Mt. Fuji.  This print was first introduced c1834-1835.  This later edition, published by Watanabe, dates to c1940s.  It bears its title cartouche and Hiroshige's seal, along with the Watanabe 6mm publisher seal. We have not examined this print out of the frame. It has generalized toning, but no obvious issues.  It is a small oban size, and framed in a c1930s-40s frame.
P3048