Utagawa Hiroshige -- 1797-1858. This 19th century Japanese artist is considered one of the premiere woodblock printers -- ever. If you're a fan of Japanese art (as I am), you'll recognize his name.
A collection of Hiroshige's prints sold at Christie's auction some years ago. Why am I telling you this? Because the prints, estimated value $15,000-25,000 each, mostly sold for a stunning $118,000, instead. Or more.
Now THAT'S a markup.
Why am I also telling you this? Because a 600-piece collection of Hiroshige woodblock prints is set to auction at Christie's soon. It will be interesting to see if the prints hold their value, appraisal-wise. The first installment auction starts September 15.
Take a look for yourself at the 2020-21 auction, including realized prices. Meanwhile, here are more of his prints for you to admire. Lovely.
We've had a visitor stop by the past few weeks. Not that we've seen him, but our trash can has been dumped over and pawed through. And I'm guessing, from the times the dogs have been Very Concerned, that he's stopped by more than that.
Our neighbor texted -- we've got a black bear in the neighborhood. Maybe two.
The Brick notified the neighborhood chain, just in case. One neighbor thinks that the drought has forced these guys down; another neighbor could care less. But I would hate for Bo, Tiger or our granddog Freya to become the next snack.
It's still hot and dull. We've gotten a bit of rain, but the forecast suggests we'll get a lot more this week. Dare I hope?
One of the stranger commercials I've ever seen: Mikhail Baryshnikov and Lil Buck shill fashion in this 2015 offering.
Cambridge's youngest professor is no more -- he resigned.Just in time, ironically, for his memoir to hit the bookstands. One review mentioned all the OTHER Great Accomplishments he did (or didn't?) and called it a piece of "mythic proportions." I'm betting it's full of it, all right.
And finally:
Today's basic advice on Bored Panda:
"If you tuck one pant leg into your sock, people stop expecting much from you."
The Great Lakes have had many other shipwrecks, but this was one of the most mysterious. One minute she was there, communicating with another ship -- then she was gone. Even after the shipwreck was found -- and she was deep -- there are still conjectures why she went down. (Besides the storm, that is, which was one of the worst ever.) Her captain's last message:
"We are holding our own."
Gordon Lightfoot's song about the Fitz is just as deep and mysterious. I would often play it right after I crossed the Michigan state line, on my way to see family in Sparta.
Now one of my favorite groups has brought their version of
