Picture of the Famous Kobe Steam Train from the Kobe Old Print Collection

 

 Japanese Color Woodblock Print

Picture of the Famous Kobe Steam Train

from the Kobe Old Print Collection

by Hasegawa Sadanobu II, reprinted 1936 (orig. 1874)

Portrait of Saigō Takamori


IHL Cat. #1957

About This Print

One of fifteen prints in a 1936 collection of prints of famous sights in Kobe originally created by Hasegawa Sadanobu II, using the art name Konobu, in the early-mid 1870s. The portfolio, or collection, of re-carved and re-printed woodblocks was issued by an organization called the Kobe Old Print Association.

Hasegawa's rendering of the steam engine is fairly accurate (see photo below.  In the background on the left side is Sumiyoshi Taisha shrine

Hasegawa favored using the large horizontal tanzaku format for his landscape prints.

Cover, Kobe Old Print Collection 神戸古版畫集


Comparison of original 1874 print to 1936 print from re-carved blocks


Railway Comes to Kobe
The railroad connection between Kobe and Osaka was opened in May 1874 (Meiji 7). It took 70 minutes to travel the 32.7 kilometer route. The first Osaka Station, popularly known as Umeda Teishajo (梅田停車場), was located in Umeda, Osaka and was opened on May 11, 1874 (Meiji 7).

Two English-made steam locomotives, one of which is pictured below, were imported by the Imperial Government Railway of Japan for use on the Kobe-Osaka Line. 

Manufactured in 1871, Sharp Stewart SN-2141
0-4-2 wheel configuration

Print Details

 IHL Catalog
 #1957
 Title or Description Picture of the Famous Kobe Steam Train from the Kobe Old Print Collection
 神戸名所鉄道蒸気車之図  Kobe meisho tetsudō jōkisha no zu
 Series Kobe Old Print Collection 神戸古版畫集
 Artist Hasegawa Sadanobu II (1848-1940)
 Signature
小信 画 Konobu ga
 Seal not sealed
 Publication Date re-printed from re-carved blocks in 1936 (originally 1874)
 Publisher 神戸古版畫同好會 KobeOld Print Association (originally Yaoya Zensuke 八尾屋善助, whose publishing information in the lower right corner of the print has been maintained in this collection's 1936 re-printed version)
 Carver 
 Printer 
 Impression excellent
 Colors excellent
 Condition poor - paper loss; trimmed to image on sides and bottom; color offsetting; not backed; vertical center fold with paper loss bottom
 Genre nishiki-e; kaika-e
 Miscellaneous 
 Format horizontal large tanzaku 大短冊判横
 H x W Paper 
 7 3/16 x 15 1/2 in. (18.3 x 39.4 cm) 
 H X W Image 5 7/8 x 13 3/4 in. (14.9 x 34.9 cm)
 Literature 

 Collections This Print
 Cultural Heritage Online (original 1874 print); The Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts А-30482 (original 1874 print)