Ht. 5 3/8 ins. (13.7 cms) Max. width 17 3/4 ins. (45.2 cms) This ink drawing with touches of red and blue pigment is typical of Kyosai's splendidly vigorous and confident ink painting. He is rightly regarded now as one of the great Japanese draughtsmen of any period. An interesting aspect of this design is that the building topped with a flag is the First Mitsui Bank Headquarters at Kaiunbashi in Tokyo, built by Shimizu Kisuke II (1815-1881) in 1871-72. It was a famous landmark of Tokyo in the 1870s which features in many prints of the time, especially by Kiyochika. There is a Kaiunbashi Bridge but it was re-built in stone in 1867 so cannot be the bridge in the design which clearly has wooden pontoons. There were a number of wooden bridges in the Tokyo of the period several of which probably had a view of the Mitsui Bank. It is quite likely that it is, in fact, Nihonbashi, still a main thoroughfare in Tokyo.

The painting has clearly been mounted as a folding fan and, as is only to be expected, the folds are worn and soiled. At some time is has been dismounted and backed to stabilise it. On the left of the fan the backing has been slightly torn and thinned (see photos) The paper is toned. On the right is Kyosai's characteristic bold signature with one of his several red seals.

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