UTAGAWA KUNITAME (ACTIVE CIRCA 1818-1830), A Panoramic View of the Sumida River, Edo

Hand-painted handscroll (emakimono); ink and colour on paper, signed Isseisai Utagawa Kunitame ga and with two seals

A lively depiction of the Sumida river, the streets and bridges bustling with samurai retinues, townspeople going about daily business and street vendors. Along the river are numerous pleasure boats and other boats carrying various commercial goods. Amongst the landmarks depicted along the river bank is the Buddhist temple of Ekoin with its giant drum-tower which was the focus of the biannual sumo tournament in the grounds of the temple. The two white cloths suspended from the tower indicate that the weather this spring day is suitable for a sumo match.
55 x 1315.7 cm. (215⁄8 x 518 in.) (when unrolled)
58.8 x 7.4 cm. (231⁄4 x 3 in.) (when rolled)