Museum für Asiatische Kunst
Di 8. Juni - So 5. September 2010
Leben in den drei Metropolen.
Kyoto, Osaka, Edo
Während der rund zweihundertfünfzig Jahre währenden Friedenszeit (1600-1868), zu welcher die Shogune der Familie Tokugawa die Geschicke in Japan lenkten, entwickelten sich die drei Städte Kyoto, Osaka und Edo (heute: Tokyo) zu Metropolen.
(...)
Im Mittelpunkt der Schau steht eine lange Querrolle, auf der das bunte Leben und die Vielfalt der Waren in einer der Haupteinkaufsstraßen der Stadt zu Beginn des 19. Jahrhunderts, einer Zeit wirtschaftlicher Blüte, illustriert sind.
(...)
Szenen aus den Vergnügungsvierteln und Bilder von Handwerkern ergänzen das Bild Edos. Andere Bilder zeigen berühmte Orte in Osaka und zwei Querrollen, die hier erstmals präsentiert werden, veranschaulichen detailreich die Festprozession eines wichtigen Schreins in Kyoto.
For further informtion click here
Donnerstag, 29. Juli 2010
Katsukawa Shunkō II (Shunsen)
(1762 - c.1830)
Changed his name around 1820 from Shunsen to Shunko II.
Active as ukiyo-e artist until the late 1820's.
The print depicts a story from the Chinese novel "Suikoden" (Shuihu zhuan in Chinese).
Gyôja Bushô of Seika-ken killing a tiger with his bare hands at the hill of Keiyô.
Signature: Shunko ga
Publisher: Maru-ya Jimpachi
Date: 1820's
Censor's seal: kiwame
Dimension: chuban
Kuniyoshi's famous version from 1827-1830:
The complete set of Kuniyoshi's "108 Suikoden" you can find here.
Hokuei
(active c.1824-1837)
The Onnagata actor Nakamura Matsue III as the courtesan Nami Oyogi ("swimming/floating wave") and her Kamuro (maid).
Signature: Shunkosai Hokuei
Publisher: Honya Seibei
Performed at the Naka Theatre 9/1831
Dimension: oban (right sheet of a diptych)
Lit.: Hendrick Lühl "Geishas und Kurtisanen", Harenberg 1983, p.185
Mittwoch, 21. Juli 2010
Sadahiro
(active after 1850)
Eiban / mameban sheets.
I have bought the prints one by one so it is the hell of a puzzle to decide which of them belong together.
By comparing the seals, colours and the wormholes you can guess which ones may be a diptych or even a triptych.
But unless you have not found a comparable print or you have read the Kanji (I cannot read it) it is very hard to get them into the right order.
I would be thankfull for any help.
Dienstag, 20. Juli 2010
unknown artist
c. 1860's
8 (from 10) eiban sheets approx 11 x 7,5 cm
Incredible how much work was put into these little prints. It is a deluxe edition that shows all skills of Osaka's elaborate woodblock printing craftsmanship; blindprinting, black laquer printing for the hair, silverish mica in the sky and gold pigments even for the smallest details.
Montag, 19. Juli 2010
Shigeharu
(1803-1853 / active after 1821)
Nakamura Utaemon III (Shikan I) as farmer Gosaku (really Ishikawa Goemon)
Signature: Ryusai Shigeharu ga
Carver's seal: Surimono Hori Kasuke
Publisher: Hon'ya Seishichi (?)
Play: Keisei setsugekka performed at the Naka Theatre 1/1830
Right oban sheet of a diptychon, left sheet by Hokushu
A complete description of the diptychon and a translation of the poems can be found in:
Hendrick Lühl "Osaka-Holzschnitte", Harenberg, 1982, p.99f
and
C. Andrew Gerstle "Kabuki Heroes", The British Museum Press, 2005, pl.270, p.287
Enjaku
(active c. 1856-1866)
Ichikawa Yonezo III as Ishii Genzo
Play: Katakiuchi ukiki no kameyama
performed at the Inari Theatre 3/1860
Format / edition: chuban, standard
Lit.: John Fiorillo / Hendrick Lühl "Enjaku - an Osaka master of the deluxe print"
Andon, by Society for Japanese Arts, 2006, Netherlands pl. 19, p.59+88
You can purchase the catalogue here.
Dienstag, 22. Juni 2010
Utagawa Kuniyoshi
(1797 – 1861)
Honchô Suikoden gôyû happyaku-nin no hitori
本朝水滸伝剛勇八百人一個
Eight Hundred Heroes of Our Country’s Suikoden, One by One
Ôanamuchi-no-mikoto killing the monstrous eagle that had been attacking passing ships.
Publisher: Kaga-ya Kichiyemon
Date: c. 1830 (whole series between c.1830-36)
Lit: B.W. Robinson "Warrior Prints", S4a.10
B. W. Robinson, Kuniyoshi (Victoria and Albert, London, 1961), pl.10
Montag, 21. Juni 2010
An ehon with so-called kappa-zuri stencil prints. The technique of kappa-zuri was used as a cheap alternative to expensive multi-colour woodblock prints.
The paper stencils were laid over the printed black outlines and painted with colours.
This technique was usual until the 1840's.
I can't tell anything about this ehon, the title page and the last page are lost, so there is neither a signature nor a date to be found.
Funny if you look around in modern western capitals and see thousands of wall-paintings done with that technique, like those of the famous british artist banksy.
Below an example I have made for a friend's booth at some fair.
Samstag, 19. Juni 2010
Donnerstag, 10. Juni 2010
Hirosada
(active 1820 - 1860)
Igagoe buyuden
Tale of Bravery at Iga Pass
subtitle:
Keisei homare no sukedachi
The Courtesan and the Proud Second in Battle
Performed at Naka Theater 1/1850 (Kaei 3)
Standad printing; the deluxe edition was published by Kyoisa.
a. Nakamura Utaemon IV as Karaki Masaemon (r.) on a veranda listening to ? as Rokuhachi.
b. Two swordsmen with blunt swords are locked in combat, and a third has taken a tumble, under the watchful eyes of Nakamura Utaemon IV as Karaki Masaemon (l.) and Mimasu Daigorô IV as Honda Naiki (r.).
Two episodes from a popular story of revenge. The brother of a murdered samurai tracked the killer over all Japan with the aid of Karaki Masaemon and finally confronted him at Iga Pass. The drama, first performed in 1777, was based on a historical incident of 1634.
A detailed summary of the legend Igagoe Dôchû Sugoroku that was the blueprint for this play you can find here.
A short summary of the story in Roger S. Keyes, Hirosada Osaka Printmaker, p. 103.
Hirosada designed at least ten diptychs, a triptych and three singlesheet prints to illustrate different scenes from this performance.
Lit.: Roger S. Keyes, Hirosada Osaka Printmaker, Long Beach, 1984, p. 103
Kitagawa, "Bosuton bijutsukan shozô Kamigata-e mokuroku" (Kansai daigaku, 2007), p. 105; Ikeda bunko, Kamigata yakusha-e shûsei, vol. 4 (2003), #237
Dean J. Schwaab "Osaka Prints", London 1989, fig.218
The first print as deluxe edition:
Sadahiro
(active after 1850)
mameban (approx. 8 x 11 cm) after a diptych by Hirosada showing the actor Nakamura Tomosa II as the boatman Yojibei.
The copied original by Hirosada with Nakamura Utaemon IV as Katô Masakiyo (r.) and Nakamura Tomosa II (l.) in the kabuki play Keisei Kiyome no Funauta, performed 1/1851
1851.jpg)
Additional picture and info from commons.wikimedia.org
Sadahiro
(active after 1850)
Genkobei is about to kill Kikuno. He suspected her of having an affair with Sangobei, but after killing her he discovered it was untrue.
mameban triptych (each sheet approx 8 x 11 cm) from the play Godairiki Koi no Fujime by the author Namiki Gohei I after a chuban triptych by Hirosda.
Actors / roles (r.t.l.): Nakamura Utaemon IV as Gengobei, Mimasu Daigorô IV as Sangobei and Nakayama Nanshi II as Kikuno
Play performed: 8/1851 (Kaei 4)
First staged May 1794 in Kyôto at the Nishi no Shibai Theater.
Lit.: Kitagawa, "Bosuton bijutsukan shozô Kamigata-e mokuroku" (Kansai daigaku, 2007), p. 105; Ikeda bunko, Kamigata yakusha-e shûsei, vol. 4 (2003), #387
Lubor Hajek "Hirosada", Artia, Prague 1959, p.89 & pic.33
Hirosada's version from Hajek's book:
An earlier oban sized version by Shigeharu with Nakamura Utaemon III as Katsuma Genkobei and Sawamura Kunitaro II in the role of Kikuno, published 7/1826 by Honsei (Hon-ya Seishichi) found at auctionukiyoe.com .
Dienstag, 8. Juni 2010
Hirosada
(active 1820 - 1860)
Nakamura Utaemon IV as Danshichi Mohei and Nakayama Nanshi II as Tomi
Play: Yadonashi Danshichi shigure no karakasa (Homeless Danshichi: An Umbrella in the Rain) performed at the Naka Theater 5/1851
Signature and seal: Hirosada / Konishi Gocho
Publisher: Kinkado
Foramt: chuban
Lit.: Roger S. Keyes, Hirosada Osaka Pritmaker, Long Beach, 1984, p. 117 plate 49
Sadahiro
mameban deluxe triptych after a chuban triptych by Hirosada.
each approx. 8 x 11 cm, cut from one sheet and glued together in an album.
Actors / roles (from right to left): Mimasu Daigoro IV as the playwriter Namiki Shozo, Nakamura Utaemon IV as Danshichi Mohei, Nakamura Nanshi II (= Nakayama Nanshi II) as Tomi.
Play: Yadonashi Danshichi shigure no karakasa (Homeless Danshichi: An Umbrella in the Rain) performed at the Naka Theater 5/1851
Lit.: Lubor Hajek "Hirosada", Artia, Prague 1959, p.91 pic.33, Roger S. Keyes, Hirosada Osaka Pritmaker, Long Beach, 1984, p. 117
Hirosada's version from 1851 (morra-japaneseart.com):
From Hajek's book:
Montag, 7. Juni 2010
Hirosada
(active 1820 - 1860)
Actors / roles (left to right): Jitsukawa Enzaburô I as Nagoya Sanza, Nakamura Utaemon IV as Fuwa Banzaemon and Mimasu Daigorô IV as Sasaki Kurando
Play: Act 4 of Inazuma Sôshi / Satomoyô Kabuki no Inazuma performed 9/1850 (Kaei 3) at the Naka Theater
Publisher: Kawaoto
Dimension: vertical chuban triptych
Lit.: Kitagawa, "Bosuton bijutsukan shozô Kamigata-e mokuroku" (Kansai daigaku, 2007), p. 106; Ikeda bunko, Kamigata yakusha-e shûsei, vol. 4 (2003), #313
Dienstag, 1. Juni 2010
Sadayoshi
Active circa 1837-1853
Actor / role: Kataoka Ichizo I as Akechi Mitsuhide
Role name used in the play: Takechi Mitsuhide
Because of strict censorship the names of the main characters had to be changed.
Play: Badarai no Mitsuhide / Toki-ha Ima Kikyô no Hataage performed 1/1841 Wakadayu Theater
Author of the play: Tsuruya Namboku IV
Publisher: Tenki
Dimension: oban tate-e
Date: 1841
ref. Sadamasu: Ikeda Bunka II,no 132
Mittwoch, 26. Mai 2010
Hirosada
(active 1820 - 1860)
Signature: Hirosada
Publisher: Konishi
Date: c.1850
Actors / roles: l. Jitsukawa Enzaburo I as Sakumaru, r. Kataoka Gado II as Umeomaru
Play: Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami
Titel: Chuko-den / A Tale of Loyalty and Filial Piety
Dimension: chuban triptyych, far right sheet missing
Ikeda Bunko IV, no. 227
You can find a summary of the play here:
http://www.kabuki21.com/sdtk.php
The complete triptych. Thanks to G.J. for the better picture.
Signature: Hirosada
Publisher: Kinkodo
Date: c.1850
Actor: Jitsukawa Enzaburo I as Inanoya Hambe
Play: Sakura Butai Omi Hakkai performed at Naka Theatre 3/1849
Titel: untitled Kabuki print
Dimension: chuban
Ikeda Bunko IV, no. 163
Konobu I / Sadanobu II
Son of Sadanobu I, active late 19th's century
Soga Monogatari / The Soga Brothers
Five eiban prints from a series of twelve.
Prints: 7 / 8 / 9 / missing / 11 / 12
eiban, each approx w 11 x h 8 cm
"The Soga Monogatari, or Tale of Soga, is a warrior tale based on the story of Kudo Saemon Suketsune who, on order to get the inheritance of his uncle Ito Sukechika, had his cousin Kozu Saburo Sukemichi murdered in 1175. Eighteen years later, on the 18th day of the Fifth month of 1193, Sukemichi's two sons, Juro Sukenari (1172-93) and Goro Tokimune (1174-93), killed Suketsune during a hunting party on Mt. Fuji. Juro was killed in the ambush but Goro was captured. Although Shogun Minamoto no Yoritomo (1147-99), applauding the brothers' bravery and loyalty, wanted to pardon Goro, Suketsune's son demanded and got his execution.
The tale focus on the conflict between the shogunal authority and the brothers loyalty to their father, highlighting the clash between the brothers' heroic vendetta and the feudal system which condemns them. The story was extremely popular in the Edo era and it was adapted for Nô, Bunraku and Kabuki, where several hundreds plays based on the Soga world were written and performed in Edo for centuries. It is still a custom in Kabuki to perform at least one sogamono every New Year."
source: http://www.man-pai.com/Notas/soga_monagatari_e.htm
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