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1840 (ca.), Utagawa Hiroshige, Crane, tit, oriole -- British Museum (London)

From the museum label:

 

To make a woodblock print the artist first produced a finely detailed hanshita-e (block-ready drawing). This was pasted onto the woodblock and destroyed during the cutting process.

 

Hiroshige made this drawing, probably a hanshita-e, for three prints to be cut into a single block. It survives because the prints were not produced. With it are two uncut prints, perhaps a publisher's sample or remaindered stock.

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Uploaded on June 15, 2025
Taken on June 15, 2025