Posts by Richard Kruml:
Ichieisai YOSHITSUYA (1822-1866)
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Higuchi no Jiro Kanemitsu, a retainer of Kiso no Yoshinaka, in the Kiso Mountains encounters a giant white baboon (ohishi) which has been terrorising the countryside and attacks it with a long bamboo spear. The creature hangs from a tree with one of Kanemitsu’s followers in its mouth. Published by Tsujiokaya Bunsuke (Kinshodo), 1858.
Very fine impression and colour. Fine condition. Signed Ichieisai Yoshitsuya ga.
Status: Sold
Tsukioka YOSHITOSHI (1839-1892)
Click here to view image full size. A triptych showing Ban Danemon Naoyuki exorcising the Bakemono in Masanori Fukushima’s mansion. A badger ghost rears up surrounded by other goblins, one of whom attempts to appease him with tea. Fukushima no yakata ni oite Naoyuki kori o taiji no zu. Published by Tsujibun, 1866. […]
Ichiryusai HIROSHIGE (1797-1858)
Click here to view image full size. Five ko-tanzaku ( an oban cut into three ) prints of various subjects ( Bon odori, Sukeroku, Hatchitataki, etc ) from an excessively rare set of 15 such prints from 5 sheets. I have located only one other group ( of six designs duplicating three offered here ). […]
Katsushika HOKUSAI (1760-1849)
Click here to view image full size. Koishikawa yuki no ashita, “Snowy Morning at Koishikawa” from Hokusai’s most celebrated set: Fugaku sanjurokkei, the “Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji.” The set of 46 prints published by Eijudo, c. 1830-32. Shows a party at a teahouse, at left, admiring the view of Fuji. The only snow scene […]
Utagawa KUNIYOSHI (1797-1861)
Click here to view image full size. Boar from a chu-tanzaku set of twelve prints Buyu mitate junishi, “Chosen Heroes for the Twelve Signs.” Based on the Chinese zodiac system of twelve animals. Shows Yuryaku Tenno, the 21st Emperor (457-480) by a waterfall killing a huge boar. Said to have occurred at Mount Katsuragi in […]
Ichiryusai HIROSHIGE (1797-1858)
Click here to view image full size. Asakusa Kinryuzan, “Kinryuzan Temple at Asakusa” Meisho Edo hyakkei, “The Hundred Views of Famous Places in Edo.” The view shown by Hiroshige is through the Kaminarimon gateway with the large hanging lantern after a heavy snowfall. The great temple, which still stands, was in the northern part of […]
Ichiryusai HIROSHIGE (1797-1858)
Click here to view image full size. The Lumberyard, Fukagawa, from Meisho Edo hyakkei, “The Hundred Views of Famous Places in Edo.” Shows snow falling on the timber yards lining a river. An umbrella in the foreground is inscribed Uo, “Fish” – a reference to the publisher Uoya Eikichi who published the set between 1856 […]
Utagawa KUNIYOSHI (1797-1861)
Click here to view image full size. Dog from a chu-tanzaku set of twelve prints Buyu mitate junishi, “Chosen Heroes for the Twelve Signs.” Based on the Chinese zodiac system of twelve animals. Shows Hata Rokurozayemon, a follower of Nitta Yoshisada, with an array of weapons and accompanied by his dog. Published by Minatoya Kohei, […]
Utagawa KUNIYOSHI (1797-1861)
Click here to view image full size. Cock from a chu-tanzaku set of twelve prints Buyu mitate junishi, “Chosen Heroes for the Twelve Signs.” Based on the Chinese zodiac system of twelve animals. Shows Kwaido Maru, the boy Kintoki, umpiring a match between a cock and a young tengu. Published by Minatoya Kohei, c. 1840. […]
Kobayashi KIYOCHIKA (1847-1915)
Click here to view image full size. A triptych, Akechi Samanosuke Mitsuhara kosui joho Karasaki matsu no zu. Shows Akechi Samanosuke Mitsuhara swimming with his horse, his kikyo (Chinese bell flower) standard tied to his back, across Lake Biwa to his cousin’s house at Sakamoto where he kills Mitsuhide’s wife and children to prevent them […]
Utagawa KUNIYOSHI (1797-1861)
Click here to view image full size. Snake from a chu-tanzaku set of twelve prints Buyu mitate junishi, “Chosen Heroes for the Twelve Signs.” Based on the Chinese zodiac system of twelve animals. Shows Nitta Shiro (Tadatsune) inside Mount Fuji during Yoritomo’s hunting party (1193) encountering snakes and a vision of the goddess of the […]
Utagawa KUNIYOSHI (1797-1861)
Click here to view image full size. Asakusa Imado from a Toto meisho set of ten prints published c. 1834. Shows three men stoking the ceramic tile kilns at Imado on the bank of the Sumida river. Mount Tsukuba can be seen in the distance. The kilns were fuelled by pine needles, a stack of […]
Utagawa KUNIYOSHI (1797-1861)
Click here to view image full size. Dragon from a chu-tanzaku set of twelve prints Buyu mitate junishi, “Chosen Heroes for the Twelve Signs.” Based on the Chinese zodiac system of twelve animals. Shows Susa-no-o-no-Mikoto standing on a rock and observing a dragon under the waves. (Probably the eight-headed dragon he slew in Idzumo.) Published […]
Utagawa KUNIYOSHI (1797-1861)
Click here to view image full size. Tiger from a chu-tanzaku set of twelve prints Buyu mitate junishi, “Chosen Heroes for the Twelve Signs.” Based on the Chinese zodiac system of twelve animals. Shows Kashiwade no Omi Hatebe (sic, usually Hadesu) engaging with a tiger that had killed his daughter. Published by Minatoya Kohei, c. […]
Kobayashi KIYOCHIKA (1847-1915)
Click here to view image full size. A triptych, Ujigawa Kajiwara Kagesue, Sasaki Takatsuna, miju uma. Yoshitsune is informed that Kiso no Yoshinaka is entrenched behind the natural defence of the Uji river, then in full flood. Yoshitsune calls on Kajiwara Kagesue and Sayemon-no-jo Sasaki Shiro Takatsuna to make an attempt at fording the river. […]
Utagawa KUNIYOSHI (1797-1861)
Click here to view image full size. Hare from a chu-tanzaku set of twelve prints Buyu mitate junishi, “Chosen Heroes for the Twelve Signs.” Based on the Chinese zodiac system of twelve animals. Shows Iga Jutaro, the elderly retainer of Soma Yoshikado, sacrificing a hare in a Buddhist temple. Published by Minatoya Kohei, c. 1840. […]
Utagawa KUNIYOSHI (1797-1861)
Click here to view image full size. Monkey from a chu-tanzaku set of twelve prints Buyu mitate junishi, “Chosen Heroes for the Twelve Signs.” Based on the Chinese zodiac system of twelve animals. Shows the Monkey King, Songoku (Sun Wu K’ung) conjuring up an army of monkeys to attack his enemy the pig. Published by […]
Utagawa KUNIYOSHI (1797-1861)
Click here to view image full size. Ox from a chu-tanzaku set of twelve prints Buyu mitate junishi, “Chosen Heroes for the Twelve Signs.” Based on the Chinese zodiac system of twelve animals. Shows the robber Kidomaru under a buffalo hide looking at his reflection in water while attempting to ambush and kill Raiko. Published […]
Utagawa KUNIYOSHI (1797-1861)
Click here to view image full size. Goat from a chu-tanzaku set of twelve prints Buyu mitate junishi, “Chosen Heroes for the Twelve Signs.” Based on the Chinese zodiac system of twelve animals. Shows the Chinese hero Kwanu (Kuan Yu) seated drinking under a pine tree with a goat. Published by Minatoya Kohei, c. 1840. […]
Utagawa KUNIYOSHI (1797-1861)
Click here to view image full size. Horse from a chu-tanzaku set of twelve prints Buyu mitate junishi, “Chosen Heroes for the Twelve Signs.” Based on the Chinese zodiac system of twelve animals. Shows Soga Goro (Tokimune) galloping from Hakone to Mount Fuji to meet his brother Juro and fulfill their revenge in the course […]
Utagawa KUNIYOSHI (1797-1861)
Click here to view image full size. Rat from a chu-tanzaku set of twelve prints Buyu mitate junishi, “Chosen Heroes for the Twelve Signs.” Based on the Chinese zodiac system of twelve animals. Shows Raigo Ajari at the Onjoji monastery, Miidera, turning the Buddhist scriptures into rats. Oye no Masafusa looks on in dismay. Published […]
Utagawa KUNIYOSHI (1797-1861)
Click here to view image full size. Shows Tametomo’s faithful retainer Kiheiji who is left behind by mistake when Tametomo sails for Japan from the Ryukyu Islands. He throws a weighted rope the immense distance to the ship and is hauled in. The best design from Tametomo homare no jikketsu, “Ten Famous Excellences of Tametomo.” […]
Utagawa HIROSHIGE II (1826-1869)
Click here to view image full size. Gathering iwatake, rock tripe or rock mushrooms in Kii Province. The common name for various edible lichens that grow on cliffs. The gatherers used precarious baskets that were hauled up and down the cliff face to collect them. Kishu Kumano iwatake tori from Shokoku meisho hyakkei, “One Hundred […]
Ichiryusai HIROSHIGE (1797-1858)
Click here to view image full size. An extremely rare chu-tanzaku, Fuyu Sumidagawa no yuki, “Winter Snow on the Sumida River.” From a set Shiki Edo meisho, “Famous Places in Edo in the Four Seasons.” A lone figure in straw cape and large hat poles a log raft down the Sumida river in heavy snow. […]
Utagawa KUNIYOSHI (1797-1861)
Click here to view image full size. Tominomori Sukeemon Masakata, one of the famed Forty-seven Ronin, sword drawn, during the famous night attack on the house of Kono Moronao. The hanging bell, above, was an early intruder alarm system. (Interestingly, it’s also said that squeaks were deliberately incorporated into wooden floors for the same reason.) […]
Ichiryusai HIROSHIGE ( 1797-1858 )
Click here to view image full size. “Evening Snow at Uchikawa”, Uchikawa bosetsu from the early set Kanazawa hakkei, “Eight Views in Kanazawa” published by Koshimuraya Heisuke, c 1835-6. This is an extremely rare and fine set and examples in good condition are very difficult to find. Each print contains a classical 31-syllable waka poem […]
Utagawa SADAHIDE (1807-1873)
Click here to view image full size. Iwanari Chikara no Suke and Shimozu Gonnai struggling in the water from Eimei kumiuchi soroi, “A Series of Famous Fighting Warriors.” Published by Moriya Jihei, 1865. Fine impression, colour and condition. Signed Gountei Sadahide ga. Status: Sold
Taiso YOSHITOSHI (1839-1892)
Click here to view image full size. Sagaminokami Hojo Takatoki warding off a group of tengu with his fan. From the fine set Yoshitoshi mushaburui, “Yoshitoshi’s Courageous Warriors.” Published by Kobayashi, 1883-1886 (this being 1883). Fine impression and colour. Light toning, otherwise fine condition. This is the first edition. There are a number of […]
Taiso YOSHITOSHI (1839-1892)
Click here to view image full size. Sano Genzaemon cutting his potted trees to warn Hojo Tokiyori. From the fine set Yoshitoshi mushaburui, “Yoshitoshi’s Courageous Warriors.” Published by Kobayashi, 1883-1886 (this being 1883). Fine impression and colour. Light toning, otherwise fine condition. This is the first edition. There are a number of later states […]
Taiso YOSHITOSHI (1839-1892)
Click here to view image full size. Danjo Matsunaga Hisahide preparing to commit suicide. From the fine set Yoshitoshi mushaburui, “Yoshitoshi’s Courageous Warriors.” Published by Kobayashi, 1883-1886 (this being 1883). Fine impression and colour. Light toning, otherwise fine condition. This is the first edition. There are a number of later states and the set […]
Taiso YOSHITOSHI (1839-1892)
Click here to view image full size. Kuro Hangan Yoshitsune and Notonokami Noritsune fighting on a ship’s prow. From the fine set Yoshitoshi mushaburui, “Yoshitoshi’s Courageous Warriors.” Published by Kobayashi, 1883-1886 (this being 1886). Fine impression and colour. Light toning, otherwise fine condition. Early edition. There are a number of later states and the […]
Tsukioka YOSHITOSHI (1839-1892)
Click here to view image full size. A chuban print from a set Wakan goki zoroi, “Valour in China and Japan.” Shows Kintaro about to deliver a blow to the Thunder God Raijin (the God of thunder and lightning – a Japanese Thor). Published by Daisada, 1868. A rare set. Fine impression, colour […]
Hishikawa SORI (Active 1797-c.1813)
Click here to view image full size. A samurai helmet maker (kabuto) from a series of surimono Shokunin sanjurokuban, “Thirty-six Poets as Craftsmen.” Issued for the Asakusagawa Club in 1802. Hand-stamped series title top right. Sori was a pupil of Hokusai originally called Soji with Hokusai passing on the name to him. Shows a beauty […]
Utagawa KUNIYOSHI (1797-1861)
Click here to view image full size. Wada Heita Tanenaga (1182-1213), short sword in hand, struggling with a giant python. He was a renowned archer and retainer of Minamoto no Yoriie. Various stories tell of how he came across the python in a cave or saved a village from its carnivorous attacks. From an untitled […]
Utagawa KUNIYOSHI (1797-1861)
Click here to view image full size. Kamada Matahachi of Matsusaka in Ise Province killing a monstrous cat. These mountain cats – nekomata – were reputed to eat humans. Published by Tsutaya Kichizo, c. 1840. Robinson S1e.3. A wonderful and rare design. Very good impression and colour. Repair bottom right corner and slight […]
Utagawa KUNIYOSHI (1797-1861)
Click here to view image full size. The apparition of the Sea Monk, Umibozu, looming above the sailor Kawanaya Tokuzo. The best design from Tokaido gojusan tsui, Station 41, Kuwana. The legend has it that Tokuzo, against the advice of his peers, went to sea on the last day of the year. He subsequently experienced […]
Utagawa KUNISADA (1786-1864)
Click here to view image full size. A vertical diptych showing the famous waka poet Ono no Komachi (c. 1825-c. 900) being sheltered by attendants from an upcoming storm. She is famous for composing a poem and praying for rain at the behest of the Emperor Junna during a period of drought across Japan. The […]
Utagawa HIROSHIGE (1797-1858) and Utagawa KUNISADA (1786-1864)
Click here to view image full size. A triptych Shinshu Sarashina tagoro no tsuki, “The Moon Reflected in the Rice Fields at Sarashina, Shinano Province.” Shows Mitsuuji, the romantic hero of the Inaka Genji (“A Rustic Genji”), admiring the multiple views of the moon reflected in the paddy-fields and about to compose a poem. On […]
Utagawa KUNIYOSHI (1797-1861)
Click here to view image full size. A triptych showing Miyamoto Mushashi (c. 1584-1645) fighting a pack of wolves in the mountains of Hakone watched by Sekiguchi Yataro seated beside a fire. Musashi was a renowned double-bladed swordsman (as seen here) and is considered the sword-saint of Japan. Published by Kiya Sojiro, 4/1861 and is […]
Yashima GAKUTEI (1786 ?-1868)
Click here to view image full size. Best known for his surimono although he produced fine paintings, some good landscapes and was also known as a poet. A surimono, one of a set of two on the martial arts of Japan and China, this obviously being Japan: Wakan butoku no uchi. Shows a helmet with […]