Posts by Richard Kruml:
Anonymous (1821)
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A still life from a set of six prints for the Iwagaki Club: Iwagaki-ren rokuhira no uchi. Shows a tobacco pouch, telescope and snake netsuke (for snake year 1821). There appear to be at least three states of this lovely surimono.
Fine impression and colour with gold and silver on the pouch. Minor rubbing, otherwise very good condition.
Status: Sold
Utagawa KUNIYOSHI (1798-1861)
Click here to view image full size. Kwanyu ( Chin. Kwan Yu ), the celebrated warrior who was deified in 1591 as Kwan Ti, the God of War. Shows the warrior standing on a partially submerged boat, far right, with his long black beard and carrying a huge halberd overlooking the river battle with the […]
Ichiryusai HIROSHIGE (1797-1858)
Click here to view image full size. A rare triptych showing fireworks over Ryogoku bridge with numerous pleasure boats negotiating the huge trestles of the bridge. A fine design published 1847 – 50 by Sanoki. Very fine impression. Pristine colour and condition. Totally untrimmed and with deluxe double-printed red. Signed Hiroshige ga. Status: Sold
Tsukioka YOSHITOSHI (1839-1892)
Click here to view image full size. The ronin Okudera Kouemon Fujiwara Hidetomi ( number 7 ) from Seichu gishinden, “Tales of True Loyalty.” From a rare uncompleted set of the 47 Ronin published 6/1868 by Masudaya. Thirteen designs extant. It has been suggested that the set was completed but that the others are not […]
Ichiryusai HIROSHIGE (1797-1858)
Click here to view image full size. Fujikawa from the so-called “Upright Tokaido.” One of the two snow scenes from the set. Shows travelers coming and going at the edge of the village. Published by Tsutaya, Hare 7, 1855. Very good impression with woodgrain evident in the sky. Very good condition with full margins. Signed […]
Tsukioka YOSHITOSHI (1839-1892)
Click here to view image full size. The ronin Muramatsu Sandayu Fujiwara Takano ( number 46 ) from Seichu gishinden, “Tales of True Loyalty.” From a rare uncompleted set of the 47 Ronin published 6/1868 by Masudaya. Thirteen designs extant. It has been suggested that the set was completed but that the others are not […]
Totoya HOKKEI (1780-1850)
Click here to view image full size. Originally a fishmonger (hence the go Totoya). Studied painting under Kano Yosen’in and then became one of Hokusai’s best pupils. Produced excellent surimono such as here showing a sumptuously attired courtesan representing Kyoto from a set of three surimono Sangoku-shi no toen ketsugi, a History of the Three […]
Yashima GAKUTEI (1786 [?]-1868)
Click here to view image full size. An uncut vertical surimono diptych showing two young women in court finery from the Heian period (794-1185). This being considered the finest and most cultured period in Japanese history. One stands on a balcony, the other on steps leading to the balcony overlooking a flowering cherry tree. Extremely […]
Utagawa KUNISADA (1786-1864)
Click here to view image full size. An extremely rare set of hosoban designs: Pictures of Various Women of imperial Japan. Shows, on the left, Princess Joruri – the lover of Yoshitsune. On the right Suke no Tsubone, the wet-nurse of the child Emperor Antoku who both drowned at the battle of Dan-no-ura in 1185. […]
Ichiryusai HIROSHIGE (1797-1858)
Click here to view image full size. Numazu from the Upright Tokaido, Gojusan tsugi meisho zue. Published by Tsutaya, 1855. The old adage that familiarity breeds contempt certainly applies to this set, which was reprinted many times. Early printings, as here, enable us to appreciate this underrated set. One of the two snow scenes from […]
Utagawa HIROSHIGE (1797-1858)
Click here to view image full size. Shows station Wada in heavy snow from Kisokaido rokujukyutsugi no uchi. 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). This high pass (1651 metres) was […]
Utagawa TOYOHARU (1735-1814)
Click here to view image full size. The founder of the Utagawa school who had, amongst others, Toyohiro and Toyokuni as his pupils. Although not the first to use western conventions of linear perspective, he was the first to employ them extensively and in full colour and had obviously studied engravings from Holland, Germany and […]
Ryuryukyo SHINSAI (c1764-1823)
Click here to view image full size. A surimono still life showing two handscrolls, a small screen, a branch of coral, a branch of plum blossom and two seals. (Coral and plum blossom are associated with the new year.) One of the seals has a tiger on top, possibly indicating this surimono was issued for […]
Utagawa HIROSHIGE III (1842-1894)
Click here to view image full size. Shinbashi station from a set of prints Tokai meisho kaisei dochu-ki, “Newly Edited Travel Stories of Famous Places of the Tokaido.” Published by Shimizuya Naojiro, 1875. The station was opened in 1872. Very good impression and colour. Binding holes in top border, otherwise very good condition. […]
Utagawa HIROSHIGE III (1842-1894)
Click here to view image full size. A train passing beneath a bridge at Shinagawa from a set of prints Tokai meisho kaisei dochu-ki, “Newly Edited Travel Stories of Famous Places of the Tokaido.” Published by Shimizuya Naojiro, 1875 Very good impression and colour. Binding holes in top border, otherwise very good condition. […]
Utagawa HIROSHIGE III (1842-1894)
Click here to view image full size. A train at Kawasaki from a set of prints Tokai meisho kaisei dochu-ki, “Newly Edited Travel Stories of Famous Places of the Tokaido.” Published by Shimizuya Naojiro, 1875. Very good impression and colour. Binding holes in top border, otherwise very good condition. Signed Hiroshige ga. […]
Utagawa HIROSHIGE III (1842-1894)
Click here to view image full size. A train at Kanagawa station, Yokohama from a set of prints Tokai meisho kaisei dochu-ki, “Newly Edited Travel Stories of Famous Places of the Tokaido.” Published by Shimizuya Naojiro, 1875. Very good impression and colour. Binding holes in top border, otherwise very good condition. Signed Hiroshige […]
Utagawa KUNISADA (1786-1865)
Click here to view image full size. A surimono showing the actor Ichikawa Danjuro VII in the role of Soga no Goro holding a print of the shichifukujin in the takarabune. A parody of the Yanone no Goro story: Yanone means “arrowhead” and is one of the eighteen famous plays in the Danjuro canon, belonging […]
Utagawa HIROSHIGE (1797-1858) and Utagawa KUNISADA (1786-1864)
Click here to view image full size. Prince Genji being poled in a punt on a lake. From a set of such triptychs published by Iseya Kanekichi in 1853. Furyu Genji fune asobi, “Fashionable Genji Enjoying a Pleasure Boat.” Very fine impression and colour. Slightly trimmed at bottom, otherwise fine condition. Signed Hiroshige […]
Ichieisai YOSHITSUYA (1822-1866)
Click here to view image full size. Minamoto no Yoshitsune, on the right holding a large bow, and Benkei, in the centre, face a large white dragon which emerges amongst lightning bolts from the Koromo River at the battle of Takadachi in 1187. Bunji sannen Oshu Takadachi kassen Koromogawa yori hakuryu ten e noboru. Published […]
Ichieisai YOSHITSUYA (1822-1866)
Click here to view image full size. 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. […]
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 […]