Montag, 24. August 2009



Utagawa Kuniyoshi
(1797 – 1861)

Seichû gishin meimei kagami
Mirror of the True Loyalty of the Faithful Retainers
1857

Teraoka Heiemon Nobuyuki, one of the 47 ronin, carrying two buckets of water through the snow.

Signature: Ichiyusai Kuniyoshi
Publisher: Ise-ya Isaburô
Date: snake 3/1857
Censor seal: aratame
Excellent colours and details. Horizontal center fold, now flattened. Very small repaired loss at left edge. Slight soiling and wrinkling. Minor marks.
oban tate-e
see in B.W. Robinson "Warrior Prints" S90.18

Toyokuni III / Kunisada
(1786 - 1865)

Gonin otoko soroi no yukata

Five brave men in yukata
I am not sure about the right sequence.

from left to right:
1. A man called Tsukinowa no kuma (bear of cresent moon)
2. A man called ? (eagle)
3. A man called Minonowa no kame (turtle covered seaweed)
4. A man called Kokuun no tatsu (dragon of black cloud)
5. A man called Takemon no tora (tiger of bamboo gate)

Publisher: Kaga-ya Kichiemon
Censor's seal: aratame
Date: 5/1861
oban tate-e





Toyokuni III / Kunisada
(1786 - 1865)

Gonin otoko soroi no yukata
Five brave men in yukata

Freitag, 21. August 2009


Tsukioka Yoshitoshi
(1839-1892)

Tsuki hyakushi

100 Aspects of the Moon
#33 Dawn Moon of the Shinto Rites
5.6.1886

The Sanno festival is a traditional event still celebrated nowadays in Japan. The print shows a dancer with a long red wig impersonating the Dragon King, performing the ceremonial Shinto dance.

Publisher: Akiyama Buemon
oban tate-e

It reminds me of the fantastic painter and comic drawer Jean Giraud alias Moebius.

The two drawings are from the amazing books "Moebius:Welten" published by Angelika Stepken for Badischer Kunstverein Karlsruhe were Jean Giraud had a beautiful solo exhibition in 2004 and "Moebius Zeichenwelt" by Andreas Platthaus, published 2003 by Andere Bibliothek, Eichborn Verlag.




© Badischer Kunstverein Karlsruhe, Eichborn Verlag, Frankfurt am Main and Jean Giraud

Donnerstag, 20. August 2009



Toyokuni III / Kunisada
(1786 - 1865)

Mitate Sanju Rokku-sen
The Thirty-six Outstanding Poems

Courtesan Takao and Patron
Not identified actors as Miuraya Takao and Sakingo Yorikane

Signature: Ichiyosai Toyokuni ga, Gengyo
Publisher: Iseya Kanekichi
Censor: aratame
Date: 3/1856
Overall good impression and condition. Good colours and details. Repaired loss at lower left corner, repaired thinning at lower right corner. Creasing throughout, light soiling, slight rubbing near edges.
oban tate-e

Dienstag, 18. August 2009



Kunisato
(pupil of Kunisada, died 1858)

Man and boy standing in the snow.
Kabuki scene

Signature: Rizu sen Kunisato ga
Publisher: Ki-ya Sojiro
Censor: Aratame
Date: snake 1, 1857/I
Overall very good impression. Strong woodgrain structure in the backround, with nice bokashi. Gauffrage on the white dress. Strong, vivid colours. Age wear, marks and soiling. Small paper losses and rubbings at the corners. Laid on japanese album backing. Margins trimmed.
oban tate-e, 24 x 35 cm

Grateful thanks to Mr H.L. for the identification of the signature.

Montag, 17. August 2009




Utagawa Kuniyoshi
(1797 – 1861)

Man with musket
(Fire-arms were bannished in ancient Japan, pictures showing muskets are hard to find)
Maybe part of a Kabuki print

Signature: Ichiyusai Kuniyoshi ga with Kiri seal
Publisher: Yamamoto-ya Heikichi
Date: c. 1847

Dienstag, 11. August 2009



Utagawa Kuniyoshi
(1797 – 1861)

Kisokaido Rokujuku Tsugi
The Sixty-nine Post Stations of the Kisokaido Road
c. 1853

The station of Hosokute / No 49
Horikoshi Dairyo drawing his sword against the ghost of Asakura Togo in a scene from the Kabuki play Higashiyama Sakura soshi. In a cartouche above, a road through a group of pine trees.

Publisher: Yawata-ya Sakujiro
Carver: hori Takichi (Ota Utakichi)
1st edition print. Excellent condition and impression, fine colours with gauffrage and shomenzuri. Minor marks and flaws.
oban tate-e, full size
see in B.W. Robinson "Warrior Prints" S74.50
Sarah E. Thompson "Utagawa Kuniyoshi: The Sixty-nine Stations of the Kisokaido", no.49 p.114f

"Hosokute: Horikoshi Dairei and the Ghost of Asakura Togo - Incredible design depicting a scene from the kabuki play "Higashiyama Sakura soshi" (The Higashiyama Storybook), based on a true story. A local mayor named Asakura Togo (the real-life Kiuchi Sogoro) petitioned the shogun directly for tax relief for his town, bypassing the crooked governor Masatomo. As a result of his illegal act, he and his wife are sentenced to die by crucifixion, but must first watch their four children executed. The ghost of Asakura Togo returns to haunt those who wronged him, here startling the seated samurai Horikoshi Dairei in his bed. A ghastly blue hand extends from the sleeve of a heavy kimono lying across the bed, reaching up to touch the warrior's face as he turns away, drawing his sword. The gray shadow of the pleading Togo kneels before him, and the snow and bushes outside transform into skulls and a crucified figure. A fantastic supernatural scene from this famous tale, detailed with soft shading and a beautiful burnished geometric pattern in the warrior's black kimono. "
(fujiarts.com)

Montag, 10. August 2009


Hirosada
(active 1820-60)

Attributed to be a scene of the Kabuki play "Hatsuebisu Fukuyatokuwaka"

(right to left) Jitsukawa Enzaburo I as Mukadeya Kingoro, Nakamura Tamashichi I as the apprentice Komakichi and Nakamura Utaemon IV as Tokuwaka Saizo.
Performed at the Naka Theater in the first month 1851.

Publisher: Kinkado
Date: 1851
double chuban tate-e

Thanks to J.V. for identifying the actors and the play.

Dienstag, 4. August 2009


unknown Osaka artist

Kabuki diptych
c. 1850's

Cut-out paintings on paper applied to backing paper with the costumes in luxurious silk brocades. This unusual and rare mixed-media painting format called oshi-e or Kirikome-e was made in the Kamigata area (Osaka-Kyoto) during the Edo period.

36,5 x 21 cm

Some examples made in the same technique found in the web:





Montag, 3. August 2009


unknown osaka artist

c. 1850's

Cut-out paintings on paper applied to backing paper with the costumes in luxurious silk brocades. This unusual and rare mixed-media painting format called oshi-e or Kirikome-e was made in the Kamigata area (Osaka-Kyoto) during the Edo period.

18,5 x 21 cm

Some examples made in the same technique found in the web:









Utagawa Kuniyoshi
(1797 – 1861)

Seichû gishin meimei kagami
Mirror of the True Loyalty of the Faithful Retainers
1857

Yazama Jûjirô Moto-oki, one of the 47 Ronin, fighting with crossed swords by a sand pit with an overturned brazier

Signature: Ichiyusai Kuniyoshi
Publisher: Ise-ya Isaburô
Date: snake 3/1857
Censor seal: aratame
Excellent 1st edition print with fine impression and condition and very good colours.
With rich powder for the flying sand. With albumbacking.
Upper area lightly soiled, margins trimmed.
oban tate-e 24.5 x 37.0 cm
see in B.W. Robinson "Warrior Prints" S90.13 (listed as not seen)










Utagawa Kuniyoshi
(1797 – 1861)

Two Sumi brush drawings on thin Japanese Paper
c. 1830's

a. Warrior fighting off an attacker on a rooftop.

The print after that drawing. From the series:
Eight Hundred Heroes of Our Country's Suikoden, One by One
Scene: Inudzuka Shino Moritaka resisting arrest on the Hôryûkaku roof
Date: c.1830/36
Robinson: S4a.3

b. Oiran (courtesan) in the garden

Preparatory drawings for woodblock prints.
Overall very good condition and impression. Creased and folded at edges. Minor marks and flaws.
each 27,3 x 37,4 cm

Grateful thanks to P.J. for identifying the print to the first drawing.

Utagawa Kuniyoshi
(1798-1861)

Taiheiki Eiyuden
Heroic Stories of the Taiheiki

Sakurai Takichi Kiyokazu / Sakurai Sakichi

Sakurai Sakichi armoured, carrying a sashimono (flag) with black discs containing the junishi (12 signs of the Zodiac) surrounding the character sakigake (leader). Making a great stroke with his naginata (weapon with long curved blade).
Sakurai Sakichi is known as one of the three famous swordsmen of the Shizugamine battle in 1583.

Signature: Ichiyusai Kuniyoshi ga
Censor: Mera and Murata
Publisher: Yamamoto-ya Heikichi
Date: 1848/49
Text on top: Ryukatei Tanekazu, 1807-1858
oban tate-e approx- 35,5 x 24,5 cm
see in B.W. Robinson "Warrior Prints", S62.34

I really like that it shows heavy age wear. Framed with a black cardboard underlying it shows all the wormholes and tears which makes it appear pretty rough, like a battle flag.
mpc

Yoshitaki
(1841 - 1899)

Kabuki actor
c. 1870's

chuban tate-e 19 x 26 cm

Sonntag, 2. August 2009


Utagawa Sadahide
(1807 - 1873)

Zen Taiheiki Tsukushi Katsuzen no Zu
Fire under the Star Light
1843-50

Signature: Gyokuransai Sadahide
Publisher: Yamaguchiya Tobei
Censors seals: Hama and Magome
oban triptych 36.5 cm x 75 cm
mpc

Katsukawa Shuntei
(1770 - 1820)

Yoshinaka's battle at Hinogawa in the northern provinces.

left to right: Nenoi fighting Ishida, Yoshinaka's wife Tomoe Gozen fighting Uchida Saburo, Imai Shiro and kiso Yoshinaka in the right sheet.
Dramatic battle silhouette in the backround that reminds me of nearly abstract 20th century prints like HAB Grieshaber's.
c. 1800's

Publisher: Yamaguchiya Tobei
oban triptych, approx. 37 x 75,7 cm

A better edition:


Ando Hiroshige
(1797 - 1858)

Tokaido Gojusan no Uchi
The Fifty-Three Stations of the Tokaido / Hoeido Tokaido
Station no.13 Namazu / Numazu-juku (沼津宿)

Travellers walking along the river bank, lined with trees, towards the village ahead, under a huge full moon in a deep blue sky, one of them carrying on his back a large Tengu mask, the mark of a pilgrim to the Shinto shrine of Kompira on Shikoku Island. Dark forest of trees on further shore of river.

Publisher: Takenouchi Magohachi (Hoeido)
oban yoko-e
Overall indifferent condition with heavy age wear but still good impression.
mpc

I believe that this print was made from the first plates. There is a typical irregular white dot in the water above of the river bank left of the trees in the foreground as you can see on the print below. You may not find it on later recarved editions.




Tengu masks

Tengu (天狗?, "heavenly dogs") are a class of supernatural creatures found in Japanese folklore, art, theater, and literature. They are one of the best known yōkai (monster-spirits) and are sometimes worshipped as Shinto kami (revered spirits or gods).

Additional pictures and quote found at Wikipedia

Ikeda Eisen
(1790-1848).

Doublepage from the Ehon "Buyu sakigake zu-e"
Pictures of brave warriors

sumizuri-e
1838 (tempo 9)
hanshi-bon 22,5 x 27 cm
mpc

Samstag, 1. August 2009


Katsushika Hokusai
(1760 - 1849)

Kanadehon Chushingura
Act 6
1806

From a series of 11 prints, only two with censor and date seal.


In 1702, Lord Asano of Ako was provoked by Kira Kozukenosuke Yoshinaka into drawing his sword in the shogun's palace, for which he was forced to take his own life, and his estate was confiscated. Forty-seven of Lord Asano's retainers, who were now ronin - samurai without masters, planned and carried out a successful attack on Kira's palace. Kira's head was cut off with the same dagger Lord Asano used to commit seppuku. The 46 surviving ronin then took their own lives. These events were made into the famous play, Kanadehon Chushingura.

Publisher: Tsuru-ya Kinsuke
oban yoko-e 37 x 26 cm
The natural colours are still nice and delicate but faded. Some gauffrage in the sky, thick hosho paper.

Print from the same series.
Act 11


Kan'non Reigen-ki - Miraculous story of the Goddess of Mercy
Pilgrimage place in the West / Temple no. 15
Story: Goshirokawa No In
Landscape and architecture by Hiroshige, scene by Toyokuni

Signature / Signatur: Toyokuni ga / Hiroshige ga
Publisher / Verleger: Yamadaya Shorjiro
Carver's seal / Holzschneidersiegel: hori Take (Yokogawa Takejiro)
Date / Datierung: 1859
Dimension / Format: oban tate-e, h 35,8 x 24,3 cm

Utagawa Yoshiiku
(1833 - 1904)

Imayo Nazorae Genji
Modern comparison of the Tale of Genji

Chapter 41: Maboroshi
Taira no Tomomori with anchor at the Battle of Dan-no-ura in 1185
Showing him in agony, wounded by arrows, bound to an anchor, drowning...
c.1863-1864

Signature: Ikkeisai Yoshiiku ga with Yoshi kiri seal
Publisher: Omiya Hisagiro
oban tate-e
Lit.: Arendie Herwig and Henk J. Herwig "Heroes of the Kabuki Stage (...)", 2005, p.171


Chapter 19: Usugumo
The sumo wrestler Nuregami Chogoro on a shore with three followers bowing.
c.1863-1864

Signature: Ikkeisai Yoshiiku ga with Yoshi kiri seal
Publisher: Omiya Hisagiro
Carver: Hori ko ??
oban tate-e

unsigned

Kataoka Gato II as Tomi Maru

Play: Katakiuchi Sozenji Waba performed at the Takeda Theatre 5/1865
Lit.: Ikeda Bunko IV, 696
chuban tate-e 18,5 x 24,5 cm


Utagawa Kuniyoshi
(1798 - 1861)

Kokon honchô meijo hyaku den
A hundred stories of famous women and men of our country, ancient and modern
Kusunoki Masaahige in court robes seated beside a celestial globe
c.1843

Publisher: Kawaguchi-ya Uhei
Censor: Muramatsu
Rare print, overall good impression and condition, very good color, minor marks, stains and flaws, little red spot at lower margin, some unbacked holes, little paper loss and peppering at upper right corner and along the right margin
oban tate-e, fullsize 37,7 x 25,5 cm
see in B.W. Robinsons "Warrior Prints" S30.10


Hirosada
(active 1820-60)

top
Okubi-e of two not identified actors

bottom
Okubi-e of Nakamura Utaemon IV as the ghost Takechi Samanosuke and
Nakamura Tamashichi I as Sutewakamura in the Kabuki play Keisei Chigo-ga-Fuchi.

1852
each chuban tate-e, 16,5 x 25 cm


A similar print, showing another play, can be found in "Hirosada - Osaka Printmaker", 1984 by The Unversity Art Museum; p.72, number 56

Toyokuni III (Kunisada) and Hiroshige II

Kan'non Reigen-ki - Miraculous story of the Goddess of Mercy
Pilgrimage place in the West /Temple no.10
Story: Yamahu Nojo
Landscape and architecture by Hiroshige, scene by Toyokuni

Signature: Toyokuni ga / Hiroshige
Date: 1858
Publisher: Yamadaya Shorjiro
Size: oban tae-e, h 35,8 x 24,3 cm

Utagawa Kuniyoshi
(1798 - 1861)

Prince Genji and two ladies watching the cherry-blossom.

Publisher: Mikawa-ya Tetsugorô (Santetsu)
Carver: hori ko Shoji (Tsuge Shojiro)
Censors's seal: aratame
Date: tiger 8/1854
oban tate-e triptych

Grateful thanks to Mr. W.P. for informations about the publisher.