Posts by Richard Kruml:
Ichiryusai HIROSHIGE (1797-1858)
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A charming small painting in shijo style obviously from a gajo of such sketches. Shows a flowering plum branch loosely tied to another branch. Sumi and light colour on paper, 5.5 x 8 in; 14 x 20.25 cms. Signed Hiroshige ga with Ichiryusai seal. Slight centre fold (of course) otherwise good condition. Old mount with bamboo ends.
Status: Sold
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Mori SOSEN (1747-1821)
Click here to view image full size. A large and extremely fine painting, sumi and light colour on silk, 48 x 22 in; 122 x 56 cms. Shows monkeys on rocks and a large tree beside a mountain stream. Sosen’s life is not well documented but he is known to have studied under the Kano […]
Santo KYODEN (Kitao MASANOBU) (1761-1816)
Click here to view image full size. An original painting, full colour on paper, image size 47 x 15.5 in; 119.5 x 39.5 cms. A pupil of Kitao Shigemasa, he was one of the leading authors and illustrators of kibyoshi, ehon and kyoka anthologies. Also produced prints of beauties including the fine set of double-oban […]
Utgawa HIROSHIGE (1797-1858)
Click here to view image full size. An original drawing, being a preparatory sketch for a painting, sumi and red under-drawing on paper, mounted as a kakemono. Image size 10.5 x 13 in; 26.5 x 33 cms. An unusual view of the Husband and Wife rocks, Meoto Iwa, “Married Couple Stones,” off Futami, Mie, Japan. […]
Hosoda EISHI (1756-1829)
Click here to view image full size. An original painting, full colour on silk, 32.5 x 10 in; 82.5 x 25.5 cms. Shows a promenading courtesan under a full moon – presumably on the way to an assignation. She wears a vivid red over-garment decorated with iris and the under-garment has heavy mica applied. Eishi […]
KAIGETSUDO School
Click here to view image full size. An original painting, full colour on paper, 39.75 x 15.25 in; 101 x 38.75 cms. Shows a beauty erotically biting a cloth. The kimono is decorated with a strong motif of flowering plants. The school was founded by Kaigetsudo Ando (1671-1743). He had a tight-knit atelier of artists […]
Torii KOTONDO (1900-1976)
Click here to view image full size. An original painting, full colour on silk with touches of gold, 45.5 x 14.5 in; 115.5 x 36.75 cms. Shows the famous story of the demon Ibaraki of Rashomon (a gate south of the Imperial Palace in Kyoto). The tale relates how Watanabe no Tsuna cuts off the […]
Ichiryusai HIROSHIGE (1797-1858)
Click here to view image full size. A fine original painting by Hiroshige I, sumi on silk, image size 38 x 12.5 in; 96.5 x 31.75 cms. Shows an avenue of trees leading to a small bridge beneath a torii; bands of mist, and, in the distance, another torii and a lake or open sea […]
Mori SOSEN (1747-1821)
Click here to view image full size. A fine original painting, sumi and light colour on silk; 41.75 x 15 in; 106 x 38.1 cms. His life is not well documented but he is known to have studied under the Kano artist Yamamoto Joshunsai (? -1781) before being drawn into Maruyama Okyo’s (1733-1795) artistic circle […]
Mori SOSEN (1747-1821)
Click here to view image full size. An original fan painting of a baby tanuki amongst autumn grasses and beneath a full moon. Sosen was a close observer of nature (even, it is said, living for a while in the woods to closely observe the animals). He is best known for his monkey paintings, of […]
Hishikawa MOROSHIGE (Fl. 1684-1704)
Click here to view image full size. An original painting showing a go game being watched by beautifully attired ladies. Moroshige was the senior pupil of Hishikawa Moronobu, and, it is said, was the father of Furuyama Moromasa. Sumi and full colour with extensive gold on silk; 10.75 x 15 in; 27.5 x 38 […]
Nagasawa ROSETSU (1754-1799)
Click here to view image full size. An original painting, sumi and light colour on silk, image size 17.5 x 14.25 in; 44.5 x 36 cms. Little is known of Rosetsu’s life: He was a lay student of Zen and a minor samurai. He became a pupil of Maruyama Okyo – the pre-eminent painter in […]
Kubo SHUNMAN (1757-1820)
Click here to view image full size. An original painting, sumi and colour on silk, 37 x 13 in; 94 x 33 cms. Shows a parading courtesan wearing a kimono of subdued colouring, being painted in sumi hues. She provocatively raises the hem of her monochromatic dress to reveal a bright red under-garment. Shunman, a […]
Utagawa HIROSHIGE (1797-1858)
Click here to view image full size. An original painting, sumi and light colour on silk, 14.5 x 22 in; 36.8 x 55.9 cms. Labelled on the right Hakone no kosui, “The Lake of Hakone.” Shows the reflection of Fuji in Lake Kawaguchi with the Misaka mountain range. A similar view could be seen from […]
Yashima GAKUTEI (1786-1868)
Click here to view image full size. An original painting, sumi and light blue on silk, 13 x 22 in; 33 x 55.9 cms. Shows a carp swimming amongst weeds. Gakutei is best known for his fine surimono (and in fact designed a surimono of this subject). Painted in Bunsei era (1818-1830). In fine condition […]
Uegaki HORYU (Fl. c 1716-1736)
Click here to view image full size. An original painting, full colour on paper, 36.5 x 15.5 in; 92.75 x 39.4 cms. Shows a full-length courtesan. It appears there are at least four other Horyu paintings known: Two in the Tokyo National Museum: C0041812 and C0041813; one in the Cleveland Museum of Art; and another […]
Watanabe SEITEI (1852-1918)
Click here to view image full size. Seitei ( Shotei ) specialised in kachoga; was famous in this area, and regarded as the leading exponent. Technically brilliant. A complete set of three paintings showing, right, Hana shobu, “ Iris Flower; centre, Matsu ni koi, “Pine Tree and Carp”; and left, Shobu, “Iris.” Each painting in […]
Ichiryusai HIROSHIGE (1797-1858)
Click here to view image full size. An original fan painting mounted as a scroll. Shows a gorge with the fast flowing Nagatoro River in Musashi Province. (An area in western Saitama Prefecture northwest of Tokyo.) Sumi and light blue on paper, 7 x 20.5 in; 17.75 x 52 cms. Comes with a certificate from […]
Kikukawa EIZAN (1787-1867)
Click here to view image full size. An original painting by Eizan who was the leading exponent of bijinga in the early 1800s producing many fine oban, triptych and shunga designs. He founded the Kikukawa School. Surprisingly, given his output of prints, his paintings are rare. This beautiful example, full colour on silk, 35 x […]
Teisai HOKUBA (1771-1844)
Click here to view image full size. One of the outstanding pupils of Hokusai, his paintings rated next below the master’s, and also one of the earliest, together with Hokkei and Shinsai. Designed some fine surimono, also kyoka books. But best known for his highly accomplished kakemono of bijin, often set against well known places […]
Ichiryusai HIROSHIGE (1797-1858)
Click here to view image full size. An extremely rare aiban print showing a shimadai, grouper, (probably Chilodactylus zonatus) and an aji, horse-mackerel, (Caranx trachurus). From a set of eight prints of various fish published c. late 1830s. Fine impression and colour. Slight soil, otherwise very good condition. Signed Hiroshige ga. Status: Sold […]
Kitao MASAYOSHI (1764-1824)
Click here to view image full size. A falcon and camellia. One design from the album: Kaihaku raikin zui, A Compendium of Pictures of Birds Imported from Overseas. The first edition published by Gungyokudo Matsumoto Zembei, 2/1789. Copies of the first two editions are excessively rare and it was then reissued with the plates signed […]
Ichiryusai HIROSHIGE (1797-1858)
Click here to view image full size. Koi, carp (Cyprinus carpio) from the second series of ten fish prints published by Yamasho, c 1840-42. The first series was issued privately for a poetry group ( probably the Shingyoku Circle ) with judges’ names and extra poems. Poem above by Makuzu. These prints are of the […]
Katsushika HOKUSAI (1760-1849)
Click here to view image full size. Cuckoo and azaleas from the so-called Small Flower series of ten chuban prints published c 1832. Amongst the most sought after of Hokusai’s prints. The first edition was published by and has the seal Eijudo. A later edition (as here) has combined manji and kiwame seal ( and […]
Utagawa HIROSHIGE (1797-1858)
Click here to view image full size. Mii no bansho, “Evening Bell at Miidera Temple” from a set Omi hakkei no uchi, “Eight Views in Omi [Province].” Shows the temple hidden amongst hills on the southern side of Lake Biwa. Miidera is the common name for the Onjoji, a temple of the Tendai sect founded […]
Utagawa KUNIYOSHI (1797-1861)
Click here to view image full size. A triptych Akazawa-yama o-sumo showing the most famous sumo match in Japanese history between Kawazu Saburo Sukeyasu and Matano Goro Kagehisa at Akazawa mountain. Also famous as Kawazu used a new sumo hold wrapping a foot around his opponent’s leg and encircling the neck with one arm, a […]
Utagawa KUNIYOSHI (1797-1861)
Click here to view image full size. An extremely rare diptych, Shoki-san jaki ni sokko, “Shoki-San, Quick-Acting Medicine to Remove Evil Spirits.” Images of Shoki were used to ward off evil spirits and illness, especially during the Boys’ Festival. Published 1858 by Enshuya Hikobei. Provenance: Purchased from me in 1994. Extremely fine impression. Fine colour […]
Utagawa KUNIYOSHI (1797-1861)
Click here to view image full size. Kwaido Maru (Kintoki) seizes Raijin, the Thunder God, with one hand while holding his thunder drums with the other. A thunderbolt falls to earth causing flashes of lightning. A fine and rare set: Honcho musha kagami, “Mirror of Warriors of our Country.” The set published by Tsujioka-ya Bunsuke, […]
Utagawa KUNIYOSHI (1797-1861)
Click here to view image full size. A triptych showing the famous archer Minamoto no Yorimasa preparing to shoot the monster Nue on the roof of the Shishinden Palace. The story relates how in 1153 the sixteen year old Emperor Konoe was having difficulty sleeping due to the shrieks and scratchings emanating from the palace […]
Utagawa KUNIYOSHI (1797-1861)
Click here to view image full size. Hironao no Hayata (Tadazumi no Hayata), Yorimasa’s retainer (see the triptych by Kuniyoshi of the same subject on this update), grappling with the composite beast Nue on the roof of the Shishinden Palace. Forked lightning bounces around him. One of the best designs from Honcho Suikoden goyu happyaku-nin […]
Ichiryusai HIROSHIGE (1797-1858)
Click here to view image full size. A newly discovered painting of a three-clawed Kano-style dragon amongst clouds. Although a subject popular with Japanese artists (and especially Chinese artists where the subject derives from), this appears to be the only such painting by Hiroshige extant. He did, however, produce two prints of the subject – […]
Washi – Handmade paper
One of the pleasures of dealing in ukiyo-e is to handle hosho on a daily basis and it is a fact that paper making was already established and used for every imaginable purpose in China and Japan well before Guttenberg was printing the Bible on some of the first western handmade paper. Hosho, used […]
Toyokuni – painted while drunk
In the current update is a painting signed “Toyokuni painted while being drunk.” This is not an isolated example: Certain artists – such as Kyosai – often signed works in this way and indeed may have benefited from a degree of inebriation to prompt inspiration. Artists often collaborated on works, especially of the Shijo school, […]
Isoda KORYUSAI (FL c 1764-1788)
Click here to view image full size. A superb original painting, full colour on silk, showing a beauty running in a late snowfall. Cherry blossom above. A leading artist of his time who produced some of the best bijin and kacho prints of the 1770s before concentrating on painting. Image size 40.25 x 14.25 in; […]
Utagawa HIROSHIGE (1797-1858)
Click here to view image full size. Nihonbashi no hakuu, “Light Rain on Nihon Bridge.” From a Toto meisho set of 21 designs published between c. 1832 and 1839 by Kikakudo. The set was subsequently enlarged. Shows figures crossing Nihonbashi in rain, one figure carries an umbrella with the publisher’s name. Warehouses in the background […]
Utagawa HIROSHIGE (1797-1858)
Click here to view image full size. A procession at the Shiba Shinmei keidai, “Precincts [of the] Shiba Shinmei [Shrine].” The shrine with the distinctive chigi protruding roof beams can be seen on the right. A popular area with the Zozoji Temple, tea stalls and where the Shoga Matsuri Festival was held. From a set […]
Utagawa HIROSHIGE (1797-1858)
Click here to view image full size. Nihonbashi no hakuu, “Light Rain on Nihon Bridge.” From a set of twenty-one prints Toto meisho, “Famous Views in the Eastern Capital” published by Sanoya Kihei, c 1834-5. The series was extended to fifty-five in c 1839-42. Shows figures crossing Nihonbashi in rain, one figure carries an umbrella […]
Utagawa HIROSHIGE (1797-1858)
Click here to view image full size. Kameido Tenmangu keidai no yuki, “The Compound of the Tenman Shrine at Kameido in Snow.” From a set of twenty-one prints Toto meisho, “Famous Views in the Eastern Capital” published by Sanoya Kihei, c 1834-5. The series was extended to fifty-five in c 1839-42. One of the most […]
Utagawa HIROSHIGE (1797-1858)
Click here to view image full size. Station Fukushima from Kisokaido rokujukyutsugi no uchi, “Sixty-nine Stations of the Kisokaido.” The set of seventy prints was started by Eisen and published by Hoeido in 1835, but in 1837 Hiroshige took over and completed the series with the publisher Iseya Rihei (Kinjudo). Fukushima was one of the […]
Ichiryusai HIROSHIGE (1797-1858)
Click here to view image full size. Tobiuo, flying fish (probably Prognichthys) and ishimochi also called guchi or shiroguchi, white croaker, (probably Argyrosomus argenatus). Together with a single lily. Poem by Toshigaki Maharu. From the second series of ten fish prints published by Yamasho, c1840-42.The first series was issued privately for a poetry group ( […]