180 Hiroshige Masterpieces from Alan Medaugh Collection to Auction at Christie's New York

Christie's New York will auction 180 exceptional works by Utagawa Hiroshige (1797-1858), the renowned Japanese ukiyo-e master, from the collection of American entrepreneur Alan Medaugh. The sale, titled 'Hiroshige: Colors of the Four Seasons,' will take place on September 15 at 10:00 AM at the Rockefeller Center, following a public exhibition from September 11 to 14. The collection, assembled over nearly 50 years, includes prints, paintings, and sketches, with some pieces from the earliest printing runs being among the rarest ever offered. Notable works include 'Sudden Shower over Ohashi Bridge at Atake' (1857), estimated up to $100,000, and 'Plum Estate, Kameido' (1857) from the 'One Hundred Famous Views of Edo' series. The auction is unprecedented in the history of the Japanese print market, as never before has a private collection of this scale been offered. Hiroshige's influence on Western artists like Vincent van Gogh and Claude Monet is highlighted. The collection comprises over 600 works in total, with two additional sales to follow for the remaining pieces.