Posts by Richard Kruml:
Kitagawa UTAMARO (1753-1806)
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A beauty with a child on her back. Amagoi Komachi from a set Furyu nana Komachi, “Fashionable Seven Komachi.” Events from the life of Ono no Komachi, one of the six best waka poets of the Heian period. Published by Iseya Soemon, c. 1805.
Very good impression. Fine colour. Slight trimming, otherwise very good condition. Signed Utamaro hitsu.
Status: Available
Price: £3,200
Suzuki Jun NANREI (1775-1844)
Click here to view image full size. An original painting, sumi and very light colour on paper, 39.5 x 11.5 in; 99.5 x 29 cm. Nanrei was the consummate Shijo artist, much admired by J. Hillier who stated: “… if one wishes to study the Shijo artist par excellence with the gifts and the limitations […]
Onishi CHINNEN (1792-1851)
Click here to view image full size. An original brush drawing, sumi on paper, 8.75 x 12.25 in; 22.2 x 31 cm. Another consummate Shijo artist. A samurai who studied painting under Watanabe Nangaku and Tani Buncho. He not only produced makimono and painting albums of great facility but also ehon such as Azuma no […]
Kobayashi KIYOCHIKA (1847-1915)
Click here to view image full size. An extremely unusual tall and narrow painting, sumi and light colour on paper, 55.5 x 4 in; 141 x 10 cm. Kiyochika was much influenced by imported Western lithographs and etchings and was an associate of Charles Wirgman (the English creator of the Japan Punch) and Shimooka Renjo […]
Kitagawa UTAMARO (1753-1806)
Click here to view image full size. The ill-fated couple Ianoya Hanbei and Ochiya: the subjects of a famous double suicide in 1722 in Osaka. From a set Jitsu kurabe iro no minakami, “An Array of Passionate Lovers.” Ochiya was banished from the family home by Hanbei’s stepmother, Okuma. However, not able to live apart, […]
Utagawa HIROSHIGE (1797-1858)
Click here to view image full size. Fujikawa sanchu no sato kyumei Miyakoyama Fujikawa, “Fujikawa: Mountain Village, Formerly called Mount Miyako” from Gojusan tsugi meisho zue, “Famous Places on the Fifty-three Stations.” The so-called “Upright Tokaido.” Shows travellers in heavy snow entering Fujikawa village down a steep slope. Published by Kichizo (Koeido Tsutaya), 1855. There […]
Utagawa HIROSHIGE (1797-1858)
Click here to view image full size. Shoheibashi Seido Kandagawa, “Seido Shrine and Kanda River seen from Shohei Bridge” from Meisho Edo hyakkei, “One Hundred Famous Views of Edo.” Summer rain over the Kanda River with the Confucian temple on the hill to the right which was founded in the 17th century. The set was […]
Utagawa HIROSHIGE II (1826-1869)
Click here to view image full size. Taishu kaigan, a Dutch ship off the seashore of Tsushima Province from Shokoku meisho hyakkei, “One Hundred Views of Famous Places in the Provinces.” The Japanese island is located off the west coast of the island of Kyushu north of Nagasaki. Published by Uoya Eikichi between 1859 and […]
Utagawa HIROSHIGE (1797-1858)
Click here to view image full size. An original drawing showing a study of a seated woman holding a rosary in front of an incense burner. Sumi and pentimenti on thin paper, 13 x 9.5 in; 33 x 24.5 cm. Sold “as is.” Status: Available Price: £1200
Utagawa KUNIYOSHI (1797-1861)
Click here to view image full size. Shows the actor Ichikawa Danjuro VIII as Misuji no Tsunagoro confronted by Seitaka top left, one of the attendants of Fudo Myo-o. From a set Mitate junishi no uchi, “Comparisons with the Twelve Signs,” this being Tori, “Cock.” Published by Kakumotoya Kinjiro, 1852. Fine impression, colour and […]
Keisai EISEN (1790-1848)
Click here to view image full size. Shows Lord Hojo Tokimasa, Governor of Totomi Province, praying for good fortune to Benzaiten in the famous Shinto shrine on the island of Enoshima. She explains that his family will flourish for seven generations before she turns into a giant serpent and disappears. Published by Iwatoya Kisaburo (Eirindo), […]
Toyohara KUNICHIKA (1835-1900)
Click here to view image full size. The actor Ichikawa Danjuro VIII as Jiraiya from Kijutsu junishi no uchi, “Magic in the Twelve Signs of the Zodiac.” This design representing Rooster although what the connection the huge eagle has to this sign of the zodiac is not known (apart from the fact that roosters often […]
Toyohara KUNICHIKA (1835-1900)
Click here to view image full size. The actor Bando Hikosaburo V as Inugami Hyobu from Kijutsu junishi no uchi, “Magic in the Twelve Signs of the Zodiac.” This design representing Dog. Hikosaburo represents a mythical dog spirit – a canine yokai. Dogs can be seen beautifully graded in the background. Published by Ueki Rinnosuke, […]
Toyohara KUNICHIKA (1835-1900)
Click here to view image full size. The actor Ichikawa Sadanji as the monk Raigo Ajari at the Mii-dera temple from Kijutsu junishi no uchi, “Magic in the Twelve Signs of the Zodiac.” This design representing Rat. Raigo transforms into a giant rat because of a grudge against the Emperor Shirakawa and ate the sacred […]
Utagawa KUNISADA (1786-1865)
Click here to view image full size. A diptych showing Musashi-bo Benkei, renowned for his herculean strength, battling with the young Onzoshi Ushiwaka Maru (Yoshitsune) on Gojo Bridge. The story relates how Benkei (1155-1189) wandered around Kyoto with the intention of relieving 1000 samurai of their swords. One night, with one more sword to go, […]
Tsukioka YOSHITOSHI (1839-1892)
Click here to view image full size. Dai ichidai Jimmu tenno, the first Emperor of Japan, from a set Dai Nihon shiryaku zue, “Short Illustrated History of Great Japan.” Jimmu (711-585 BC), the founder of the Imperial dynasty, launched his military expedition from Hyuga and captured Yamato. He is shown holding his yumi bow with […]
Tsukioka YOSHITOSHI (1839-1892)
Click here to view image full size. Fukuhara densha kaii no zu, “Strange Apparitions.”A triptych showing Taira no Kiyomori, leader of the Taira clan, on the terrace of his palace in Fukuhara haunted by the apparition of the skulls of past enemies in his snowy garden – primarily the Minamoto clan – that he has […]
Utagawa YOSHIKAZU (Fl. 1850-70)
Click here to view image full size. Triptych showing an American steamship. Amerika jokisen, nagasa yonjuken, haba rokken, “American Steamship: Measuring Two Hundred and Sixty Feet long and Forty Feet wide.” Published by Maruya Jinpachi (Enjudo), 1861. A fine depiction. Very fine impression and colour; light burnishing on boat. Album backing; two sheets connected, […]
Utagawa KUNIYOSHI (1797-1861)
Click here to view image full size. A triptych of Yokohama Honcho no zue, “Honcho [Main Street] in Yokohama.” Shows the busy street one year after the port opened to foreign trade on 2nd June 1859. The Mitsui store is seen at left and the street is thronged with tradesmen and Japanese and foreign visitors. […]
Ichiryusai YOSHITOYO (1830-1866)
Click here to view image full size. A dramatic triptych showing the samurai Nitta no Shiro Tadatsune, having crawled into a cave on Mt. Fuji, brandishing a firebrand that reveals the Deity of Mt. Fuji (Shinto); or the Goddess Kannon (Buddhist) surrounded by a dragon. Tadatsune is surrounded by bats. Yoshitoyo was a pupil of […]
Utagawa HIROSHIGE II (1826-1869)
Click here to view image full size. Click here to view image full size. The complete 6-sheet Kanagawa: Noge Yokohama, an evening scene showing an aerial view of Yokohama with an American ship entering the port on the far left. The two triptychs were published separately: the left 2/1861 and 6/1861 on the right but […]
Miyagawa CHOSHUN (1682-1752)
Click here to view image full size. The pre-eminent painter of the first half of the eighteenth century but not better known because neither he or his pupils are known to have designed any prints. His subjects were invariably beautiful girls and women, which makes this painting especially interesting. Shows two new year manzai dancers. […]
Katsukawa SHUNSHO (1726-1793)
Click here to view image full size. The actor Otani Hiroji III as a samurai, one sword drawn and facing an adversary. Shunsho was the founder of the Katsukawa school and had many pupils (including Hokusai [Shunro]). He was a prolific designer of hosoban actor prints and produced some of the finest designs in this […]
Kishi GANTAI (1782-1865)
Click here to view image full size. An extremely large painting, 55.5 x 32 in; 141 x 81.3 cms, sumi and light colour on silk. Shows a pair of Sika deer, their summer coats spotted and white. Gantai was the son and pupil of Ganku, and together with his brother, Renzan, carried on the Kishi […]
Utagawa HIROSHIGE (1797-1858)
Click here to view image full size. Seki from a Tokaido set published by Maruya Seijiro, 1850-51, hence it is often referred to as the Marusei Tokaido. Also known as the Reisho Tokaido because the title “Tokaido” is written in formal script. Below is the station number 48. Seki was located where the two highways […]
Shunkosai HOKUEI (FL. 1829-1837)
Click here to view image full size. A dramatic diptych showing the actor Iwai Shijaku I as Lady Osuma shining her lantern on the actor Bando Jutaro as Sasaya Hanbei from the play Honobonoto ura no asagiri, “Daybreak Hidden on the Bay by Morning Fog.” A revenge drama performed at the Naka no Shibai, Osaka, […]
Santo KYODEN (Kitao MASANOBU) (1761-1816)
Click here to view image full size. A pair of original paintings, full colour on silk, image size 38.5 x 15.5 in; 97.75 x 39.5 cms. Shows a courtesan on the left with a portrait of a novelist on the right. The paintings are signed “By special request” and were presumably commissioned by the novelist […]
Kubo SHUNMAN (1757-1820)
Click here to view image full size. One of a series of surimono with title: Guncho gafu, “ Pictorial Record of a Swarm of Butterflies.” (In fact butterflies and moths.) Shunman is recognised as possibly the greatest designer of surimono and the prints from this set are amongst the most beautifully printed in this field. […]
Sakai HOITSU (1761-1828)
Click here to view image full size. One volume complete Oson gafu, “Drawing Book of Oson.” (This being one of the artist’s names taken from the village Uguisu-mura where he lived in retirement.) The Rimpa artist Hoitsu revived the work of Ogata Korin (1658-1716). Dated on the first preface Bunka 13 (1816) and was originally […]
Utagawa KUNISADA II (1823-1880)
Click here to view image full size. A triptych showing the fight on the roof of the Horyukaku Tower of Koga Castle beside the Tone River. A popular scene from the complex novel Nanso Satomi Hakkenden, “The Diary of Eight Dogs” by Takizawa Bakin (1767-1848). The macabre tale revolves around the eight offspring of a […]
Ryuryukyo SHINSAI (1764-1820)
Click here to view image full size. An original painting, sumi and light colour on silk, 32 x 11 in; 81.3 x 28 csms. Shows three classes in Japanese society: Farmer’s wife, Priest and a Samurai, forced to shelter together at the entrance to a Shinto shrine from a sudden downpour of rain. Above, a […]
Utagawa KUNIYOSHI (1797-1861)
Click here to view image full size. The priest Nichiren standing on the rocky promontory at Reizan in Kamakura and having his prayers for rain answered. The event occurred in 1271. His disciples surround him and protect him from the deluge with a large umbrella. Bunei hachi Kamakura Reizan-ga-saki uki. The second best design from […]
Kitagawa FUJIMARO (1790-1850)
Click here to view image full size. An original painting, full colour on silk, image size 35.25 x 13.5 in; 89.5 x 34.5 cms. Fujimaro was a talented late pupil of Utamaro. More than a dozen paintings are recorded by him including an example in the Portland Art Museum, acc. number 69.51. His best-known work […]
Kikukawa EIZAN (1787-1867)
Click here to view image full size. An original painting by Eizan, sumi and full colour on silk, 37 x 13 in; 94 x 33 cms. Eizan was the leading exponent of bijinga in the early 1800s. He founded the Kikukawa School with Eisen his best known pupil. He was left-handed which was somewhat unusual. […]
Matsumura GOSHUN (1752-1811)
Click here to view image full size. An original painting, sumi and light colour on silk, 49 x 22 in; 124.5 x 56 cms. Shows a mountainous landscape in snow with figures on a narrow footpath between overhanging cliffs. Goshun was a highly influential artist, known for his geniality and mastery, not only of painting, […]
Maekawa SENPAN (1888-1960); Okamoto IPPEI (1886-1948); Kondo KOICHIRO (1884-1962) et al
Click here to view image full size. A set of two handscrolls in original paulownia storage box, 30 feet x 10 in; 914.4 x 25.4 cms. Sumi and full colour on paper by 18 artists of the Tokyo Manga Association, produced in 1921: 27 paintings in scroll 1; 28 paintings in scroll 2. The scrolls […]
Utagawa HIROSHIGE (1797-1858)
Click here to view image full size. Ushiwakamaru (Yoshitsune) defeats the priest Tankai of Shirakawa at the Gojo Shrine under a full moon. Hachikai, Gojo no Yashiro ni Ushiwakamaru Shirakawa no Tankai o uchitori from the set Yoshitsune ichidaiki no uchi, “The Life of Yoshitsune.” Published by Tsuruya Kiemon (Senkakudo) 1832-34. Fine impression and […]
Katsukawa SHUNSHO (1726-1792)
Click here to view image full size. Two sumo wrestlers from the East Side: Kurateyama Yadayu (right) and Izumigawa Rin’emon (left) from a fine set of double portraits: 5 from the West Side, 6 from the East Side. No publisher’s seal but probably published by Toyoshimaya Bunjiemon (Bunkindo) c. mid 1780s. Fine impression. Very […]
Utagawa HIROSHIGE (1797-1858)
Click here to view image full size. Station Numazu from a set Tokaido gojusan tsugi, “The Fifty-three Stations of the Tokaido Road,” aka the Reisho Tokaido from the clerical script used in the title, or the Marusei Tokaido after the publisher Maruya Seijiro (Marusei) who published the set 1847-52. An impressive view of Mount Fuji […]
Utagawa HIROSHIGE (1797-1858)
Click here to view image full size. Station Hara from a set Tokaido gojusan tsugi, “The Fifty-three Stations of the Tokaido Road,” aka the Reisho Tokaido from the clerical script used in the title, or the Marusei Tokaido after the publisher Maruya Seijiro (Marusei) who published the set 1847-52. A huge Mount Fuji towers over […]