85 Takahashi Shōtei (Hiroaki) 1871 – 1945 Spring Evening

A post-earthquake variant of Shōtei’s Spring Evening, created after the 1923 Great Kantō Earthquake destroyed all blocks and inventory of publisher Watanabe Shōzaburō.
Forced to work with other publishers to sustain himself, Shōtei (also known as Hiroaki) reinterpreted some of his pre-quake designs and issued new compositions for export. This print, unusually signed Hiroshige, was commissioned by an overseas merchant responding to the high Western demand for “Hiroshige-style” landscapes.

Delicate gradations of dusk light and a tranquil mood reveal Shōtei’s mastery of atmosphere and space — hallmarks of the shin-hanga movement.

This impression belongs to the rare group of post-quake editions that testify to the artist’s resilience and the enduring beauty of his poetic vision.