Two Japanese prints of fishing vessels. Captioned and signed, I think.

[Bunkerhill]

Hello everyone!

Have been meaning to ask about these two print in my collection. They both depict fishing vessels, one with a view of Mt. Fuji in the background. One has what appears to be both a signature and a caption. The second, maybe a brief caption? Any help with a translation would be so helpful.

 

[Bunkerhill]

The second, more simple print.

 

[Bunkerhill]

Okay, turns out the first one is by Utagawa Hiroshige and is titled ' Japanese Ships on Lake Hamana ' .

 

[Majestic]

Hmm. I looked around for a long time to find these two prints online, but I couldn't find either so I reluctantly gave up, hoping someone else would find them. The first one is indeed by Utagawa Hiroshige, and the text says "53 Stations, Arai", which means the "Arai Station" along the Tōkaidō route. Arai is indeed on Lake Hamana (aka Hamana-ko). But I couldn't find this same print that you have. There is another famous print of his that features Arai and sailing ships, but it is different from the print you have posted.
Hiroshige I Utagawa, Arai, The Fifty-three Stations of the Tokaido

 

[Majestic]

Your second print is also by Hiroshige, but it bears his "pen name" of Ryusai-hitsu (立斎筆). Ryusai is his pen name, and "hitsu" means drawn by.
But even knowing that and looking at the subject matter (two sailing ships in front of Mt. Fuji - possibly this is also around Hamanako) I cannot find a copy of this print online. It might be from another series of "53 Stations of Tōkaidō" (of which there were several, I believe), but I quickly hit a brick wall.

 

[Bunkerhill]

Thank you so much! Far more info than I would ever have gathered.

 

[Toritoribe]

It's said that there are over 20 different versions of Tōkaidō series by Hiroshige. Your picture is close to 行書版, but still different.

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