Posts by Richard Kruml:
Nishikawa SUKENOBU (1671-1751)
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A client taking leave from his paramour, her assistant stands back holding small presents. Sukenobu was born, lived and died in Kyoto. Apart from some paintings and prints, his extensive output was in the form of illustrated books, and albums. The example here is from one of these albums. Always in sumi, without colour.
Very good impression. Some expertly repaired wormage and centre fold (as usual).
Status: Sold
Kitagawa HIDEMARO (active circa early 19th century)
Click here to view image full size. A pupil of Utamaro who produced some fine work at the turn of the century. An aiban double bust portrait of the courtesan Sodenoura of the Tamaya House and her kamuro. Published c1810s. Fine impression and colour. Minor creases and several small backed wormholes, but overall lovely, fresh […]
Ichiryusai HIROSHIGE (1797-1858)
Click here to view image full size. A chuban triptych showing three beauties relaxing at Takanawa from a set of Eight Views of Edo. Published by Joshuya Kinzo c.1849-50. (Tamba no.146.) Very good impression, colour and condition. Signed Hiroshige ga. Status: Sold
Isoda KORYUSAI (1735-1790)
Click here to view image full size. The courtesan Matsunoi of the Matsubaya with her kamuro. From a large series Hinagata wakana no hatsu moyo, “Models for Fashion: New Year Designs as Fresh as Young Leaves.” Published by Eijudo and Juzaburo in the late 1770s. This set is the largest known bijin series (140 prints […]
Kikugawa EIZAN (1787-1867)
Click here to view image full size. A complete triptych showing young girls in attendance on a court couple. An early (c.1820) design published by Nishimuraya Yohachi. Very good impression, colour and condition. Full size with extra paper for joining. Signed Eizan fude. Status: Sold
Ichiyusai KUNIYOSHI (1797-1861)
Click here to view image full size. An extremely rare chuban triptych from a set of the Four Seasons, this being “Winter”. Seemingly the only other illustrated example is in Kuniyoshi, Juzo Suzuki, Tokyo, 1992, which shows all four from the set, nos. 233-236. Published by Arita-ya Kiyoyemon, c.1845. Extremely fine impression and colour. Minimal […]
Kitagawa UTAMARO (1753-1806)
Click here to view image full size. A beauty from the tea-house Suminoe in the district of Shiba from a series: “Comparing the Charms of five Beauties”. The picture-riddle (in the circular cartouche top right) gives the identity of the beauty on each design. In the second edition the riddle is replaced with a flower […]
Ichiyusai KUNIYOSHI (1797-1861)
Click here to view image full size. Three bijin under Ryogoku Bridge on the Sumida River from a set of “The Four Seasons”, this being summer. Published by Iba-ya Sensaburo. Very good impression, colour and condition. Signed Ichiyusai Kuniyoshi ga. Status: Sold
Ichiyusai KUNIYOSHI (1797-1861)
Click here to view image full size. Cooling off on the Sumida River. Published by Ebi-ya Rinnosuke c.1843-46. Very good impression and colour. Slight folds, otherwise very good. Signed Cho-o-ro Kuniyoshi ga. Status: Sold
Utagawa KUNISADA (1786-1865)
Click here to view image full size. A rare nagaban series of full length bijin published by Kinrindo (Moriya Jihei) c.1835-37. Very good impression and colour; slight soil, otherwise good condition. Signed Kochoro Kunisada ga. Status: Sold
Suzuki HARUNOBU (1724-1778)
Click here to view image full size. A chuban print of a young girl beside a stream. A poem above, by Ono no Komachi, compares her thoughts to a floating reed. One of a series based on “The Thirty-six Poets”. Another impression illustrated in the Philadelphia Musuem of Art catalogue Suzuki Harunobu, 1970, p.141, no.79. […]
Nishimura SHIGENOBU (fl. c.1724-35)
Click here to view image full size. A young woman with straw hat. Ex Vever collection (see part 1, page 28, lot 29, 1974). Published by Urokugata-ya Hangen. Hosoban urushi-e. Minor marks, but good condition for a print of this period. Signed Eshi Nishimura Shigenobu hitsu. Status: Sold
Suzuki HARUNOBU (1724-1770)
Click here to view image full size. An unsigned chuban showing a seated courtesan with her two kamuro. One brings a letter while the other cleans her mistress’s tobacco pipe. Behind is a large kiri-mon on a noren. Published c. 1766-67. Other impressions in the Tokyo National Museum, Honolulu Academy of Arts and The Metropolitan […]
Torii KIYONAGA (1752-1815)
Click here to view image full size. One of the great Ukiyo-e artists exemplifying what is called the classical school. He was a pupil of Kiyomitsu and was adopted by the Torii family, inheritating the estate, and was the last major member of the Torii School. From a set Jittai e-fuzoku, “Ten Forms of Manners […]
Kitagawa UTAMARO (1753-1806)
Click here to view image full size. An aiban showing a mother and daughter from a set Tosei fuzoku hakkei, “Eight Views of Manners of Today.” This design probably referring to Mother’s Day. Another from the set is illustrated in Ukiyoe Zuten, no. 13, Utamaro, Kiyoshi Shibui, p. 107. Published by Izumiya Ichibei, c 1803. […]
Kitagawa KIKUMARO (c. 1753-1830)
Click here to view image full size. A bust portrait of the courtesan Agemaki of the Miuraya House compared to the poet Fun’ya no Yasuhide, one of the Six Immortal Poets (and shown in the roundel above). Obviously a set of six prints published by Maruya Bun’emon. It can be dated to 1802-4 because the […]
Kitagawa UTAMARO (1753-1806)
Click here to view image full size. An aiban showing an elegant couple holding falcons. Takagari, Japanese falconry, is said – as so much else in Japan – to have come from China around the 4th century. A symbol of nobility and a status symbol. Published C 1803. Fine impression with excellent colour. […]
Utagawa KUNISADA (1786-1864)
Click here to view image full size. A stone lantern strongly illuminating a beauty reading a missive from a set Tsuki no kage shinobiau yoru, “Secret Meetings by Moonlight.” Published by Yamamotoya Heikichi c. 1836-38 and is based on strong light sources shining on beauties. This chiaroscuro technique was pioneered by Shumman and used by […]
Utagawa KUNISADA (1786-1864)
Click here to view image full size. A woman putting out a floor lamp from a set Tsuki no kage shinobiau yoru, “Secret Meetings by Moonlight.” Published by Yamamotoya Heikichi c. 1836-38 and is based on strong light sources shining on beauties. This chiaroscuro technique was pioneered by Shumman and used by Utamaro and Toyokuni […]
Kikugawa EIZAN (1787-1867)
Click here to view image full size. A triptych showing courtesans enjoying themselves on a balcony overlooking Tokyo bay. Furyu minami eki shiohi, “Fashionable South Station at Ebb Tide.” In fact, clam digging at low tide which can be seen in the background. This is a play on words as clams had erotic connotations. Shiohigari, […]
Utagawa KUNIYOSHI (1797-1861)
Click here to view image full size. A vertical oban diptych showing the poetess Kagano Chiyo (1703-1775). The story relates how Chiyo goes to her well to draw water only to find that a morning-glory vine has overgrown her bucket. Rather than disturb it, she goes to a neighbour for water. This is the subject […]
Chobunsai EISHI (1756-1829)
Click here to view image full size. The parading courtesan Yosooi of Matsubaya with her kamuro Tomeki and Nioi. Published by Nishimuraya Yohachi c. 1800. She must have been a popular courtesan as she is depicted on many prints by various artists around this date. Fine impression. Very good colour: Pale yellow ground. […]
Suzuki HARUNOBU (1724-1770)
Click here to view image full size. A pillar print showing a beauty after a bath walking past a pot of morning glory. Published c. 1768. The morning glory is a precursor of hot summer. Some 40 or 50 years later there was a craze for these plants almost akin to Dutch tulip fever. Other […]
Keisai EISEN (1790-1848)
Click here to view image full size. A high-ranking courtesan ( oiran ) looking over her shoulder. From a set of six prints: Bijin kaichu kagami – Jisei rokkassen: Ariwara no Narihira, “ A Pocket Mirror of Beauties – Six Immortal Poets of the Era: Ariwara no Narihira.” The set compares the beauties to the […]
Yushido SHUNCHO (Fl. c. 1780-1795)
Click here to view image full size. A chuban print showing beauties sight-seeing on the Sumida River. From a set of ten prints of views of Koto (an area of Edo bounded by the Sumidagawa to the west and Arakawa River to the east with many canals). Published by Enomoto, c. 1790. Very good impression. […]
Katsukawa SHUNSHO (1726-1792)
Click here to view image full size. A chuban print from a set of three: Sanseki waka, “Three Evening Poems.” In this case interpreting a poem by Jakuren hoshi (1139-1202). The poem reads: Sabishisa wa / sono iro to shimo / nakarikeri / makitatsu yama no / aki no yugare, Loneliness / is not / […]
Isoda KORYUSAI (1735-1790)
Click here to view image full size. A pillar print, hashira-e, of a beauty after a bath cooling herself with a fan. A cat looks up adoringly from below. Above her is a temple bell wind chime, often hung in the summer. Masanobu laid claim to have invented the pillar print format. Roger Keyes has […]
Katsukawa SHUNCHO (Active 1780-1795)
Click here to view image full size. A chuban print from a set of five designs: Imoseyama gomai tsuzuki, “Imoseyama, a Set of Five Prints.” Shows two court beauties and an attendant. Based on the Bunraku play Imoseyama onna teikin, “Husband and Wife Mountain: An Exemplary Tale of Womanly Virtue” which was performed for the […]
Utagawa SADAHIDE (1807-1873)
Click here to view image full size. A triptych, Shin Yoshiwara karitaku no zu, “Temporary Lodgings of the New Yoshiwara.” Shows the courtesans Shiratama, Masanagi, and Tamakazura of the Tamaya House before a latticed window overlooking the Ryogoku River. The Tamaya was one of the best known brothels. Their kamuro are listed beside their names. […]
Kikugawa EIZAN (1787-1867)
Click here to view image full size. The courtesan Biso of the Ogi House holding a brush up to a snow sculpture of Daruma. Snow from a Snow, Moon, Flowers set: Seiro bijin setsugekka. Published by Kawaguchiya Uhei, c late 1810s. Fine impression. Very good colour. Fine condition: Full size with extra paper. Signed […]
Kikugawa EIZAN (1787-1867)
Click here to view image full size. Winter from a set Furyu bijin kodakara awase, “Elegant Beauties and Precious Children.” Shows a beauty carrying one child and looking down at another with a large snowball. Published by Matsumura Yahei, c late 1810s. Fine impression. Very good colour. Fine condition: Full size with extra paper. […]
Tsukioka YOSHITOSHI (1839-1892)
Click here to view image full size. Kemu-so: Kyowa nenkan naishitsu no fuzoku, “Looking Smoky:The Appearance of a Housewife of the Kyowa Era.” From the set: Thirty-Two Aspects of Women published by Tsunashima Kamekichi, 1888. Shows a housewife fanning a smoldering fire probably intended to repel summer insects. The best design from the set. […]
Kitao MASANOBU (Santo KYODEN) (1761-1816)
Click here to view image full size. One double-oban design from the most sumptuous album ever produced: Yoshiwara keisei: Shin bijin awase jihitsu kagami, “A Mirror of New Yoshiwara Courtesans with Samples of Their Calligraphy.” Published by Tsutaya Juzaburo, 1784. Shows courtesans viewing calligraphic scrolls. Seven double-oban designs were published in album form, although the […]
Choensai EISHIN (Fl. 1795-1817)
Click here to view image full size. An original painting by a rare pupil of Hosoda Eishi. He designed some fine bijin prints, including rare okubi-e. Shows a beauty in heavy snow with billowing trousers, a heavy straw cape and tall geta elevating her above the snow. She holds a wide-brimmed hat in her right […]
Hosoda EISHI (1756-1829)
Click here to view image full size. The courtesan Shizuka of the Shizutama-ya from the set of six prints Seiro bijin rokkasen, “Six Poems on Yoshiwara Beauties as Flowers.” One of the most beautiful sets of this period. Published 1794 by Nishimuraya Yohachi (Eijudo). The centre cartouche has a seasonal bloom, in this case the […]
Hosoda EISHI (1756-1829)
Click here to view image full size. The parading courtesan Yosooi of Matsubaya with her kamuro Tomeki and Nioi. Not listed in Brandt. Published by Nishimuraya Yohachi (Eijudo) c 1800. She must have been a popular courtesan as she is depicted on many prints by various artists around this date. Fine impression. Very good […]
Utagawa TOYOKUNI (1769-1825)
Click here to view image full size. A triptych showing the interior of a mansion. In the centre the head of the household, a young male, surrounded by his female attendants. This most likely shows the Setsubun – a ritual of bean-throwing to clear out the evil from a house on the day before the […]
Utagawa KUNISADA (1786-1865)
Click here to view image full size. Fuji kaeri no yudachi, “Sudden Shower on the Way Home.” Shows a beauty hunched under an umbrella against the rain. From a set of ten prints Tosei bijin awase, “Contest of Present-day Beauties.” She is returning from the Fuji festival celebrating the annual opening of Mount Fuji to […]
Kitagawa SHIKIMARO (Fl. c 1810)
Click here to view image full size. The courtesan Oi of the Ebiya smoking a pipe and admiring her reflection in a mirror. From a set Imayo onna kasen, sanjurokuban tsuzuki, “Thirty-six Modern Female Poets.” In the panel to the left is an example of her calligraphy with the names of her kamuro: Miyako and […]
Utagawa TOYOKUNI II (1777-1835)
Click here to view image full size. An aizuri (blue) print from a set Tosei bijin hana-awase, “Beauties of the Latest Fashion Compared to the Beauty of Flowers.” In this case kikyo flowers – the Chinese bellflower. Aizuri prints were the outcome of avoiding intermittent edicts promulgated by the bakufu prohibiting the number of blocks […]