Posts by Richard Kruml:
Ichiyusai KUNIYOSHI (1797-1861)
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Chapter 41, Maboroshi, from Nazoraye Genji kyokun dzuye, “Illustrations of Moral Conduct Compared with the Chapters of Genji”. A girl watches returning geese against a full moon. Published by Maru-ya Jimpachi c1843. One of the best designs from the set.
Very good impression and colour. Light album backing. Very good condition. Signed Ichiyusai Kuniyoshi ga
Status: Sold
Keisai EISEN (1790-1848)
Click here to view image full size. A kakemono-e showing a promenading beauty. Fine impression. Almost perfect colour and condition. Signed Keisai Eisen ga. Status: Sold
Kikugawa EIZAN (1787-1867)
Click here to view image full size. A young beauty with child from a set Furyu kodakara rokkasen, “Six Poets in Modern Days with Darling Children”. Very good impression on thick hosho. Very good colour and condition. Completely untrimmed. Signed Kikugawa Eizan fude. Status: Sold
Kochoro KUNISADA (1786-1865)
Click here to view image full size. A fine composition showing the upper and lower floors of a brothel in the Yoshiwara. Natsu no bu, Summer, from a set of four prints: The View of Four Seasons in Modern Times. Published by Kikakudo 3/1856. Fine impression, colour an condition. Signed Toyokuni ga. Status: Sold
Utagawa TOYOHIRO (1773-1828)
Click here to view image full size. A pillar print showing a young nobleman arranging irises in a vase. One of the most elegant pillar prints. Another (trimmed) impression, ex Ficke, is illustrated in Jacob Pins, The Japanese Pillar Print, mo 923, p326. Fine impression. Minor marks and slight fading but generally very good condition […]
Okumura TOSHINOBU (active 1717-1750)
Click here to view image full size. A hoso-e showing three beauties representing the three major Japanese cities: Kyoto; Osaka, and Edo. Published c1729. Very good impression. Urushi-e, coloured by hand in mustard, lilac, green, beni, gold and heavy sumi over embossed pattern. Some toning, otherwise good condition. Signed Yamato gwako Okumura Toshinobu hitsu. Status: […]
Taiso YOSHITOSHI (1839-1892)
Click here to view image full size. Wanting a stroll. A Meiji beauty in western-style dress from the set Fuzoku sanjuniso, the “Thirty-Two Types of Beauty in Daily Life” published by Tsunashima 1888. The first edition. Very fine impression and colour. Full size with extra paper left and top. Signed Yoshitoshi ga. Status: Sold
Taiso YOSHITOSHI (1839-1892)
Click here to view image full size. Smoky. A housewife from the Kyowa era fanning a fire from the set Fuzoku sanjuniso, the “Thirty-Two Types of Beauty in Daily Life” published by Tsunashima 1888. The first edition. Very fine impression and colour. Full size with extra paper left and top. Signed Yoshitoshi ga. Status: Sold
Hishikawa RYUKOKU (Fl. c1808-16)
Click here to view image full size. A rare artist working in the style of Utamaro. Shows the courtesan Sugawara of Tsuruya with a brush in her hand and an acolyte bringing ink. Unidentified publisher. Fine impression. Very good colour. One light crease otherwise very good condition. Signed Ryukoku fude. Status: Sold
Attributed toTorii KIYOTSUNE (Active c1757–1779)
Click here to view image full size. A quarter-block, 5 x 6 in; 12.5 x 15 cms print showing the actors Segawa Kichiji III ( right ) in an onnagata role ( unread ) and Bando Matataro IV as Harada Rokuro in the play Kono hana yotsugi no hachinoki performed at the Ichimura-za in the […]
Attributed to Torii KIYOTSUNE (Active c1757–1779)
Click here to view image full size. A quarter-block, 5 x 6 in; 12.5 x 15 cms print showing the actors Nakamura Sukegoro II ( right ) as Yamana Sozen and Nakamura Juzo II as Fuwa Banzaemon in the play Fukikaete tsuki mo Yoshiwara performed at the Moita-za in the 11th month of 1771. Fine […]
Attributed to Katsukawa SHUNSHO (1726–1792)
Click here to view image full size. The actor Ichikawa Danjuro V possibly as Moriya no Daijin disguised as Rokuju-rokubu in the play Miya-bashira iwao no butai, performed at the Morita 7/1773. Ex collection Walter von Scheven, 1878 – 1950, and bought by him from Aoyama, Paris in 1929. Fine impression, colour and condition. Unsigned. […]
Utagawa TOYOKUNI I (1769–1825)
Click here to view image full size. The centre sheet of a hosoban triptych possibly showing Danjuro VI as Ashikaga Takauji or Prince Takahiro. Ex collection Walter von Scheven, 1878 – 1950, and purchased by him at Altkunst, Berlin in 1929. A fine design. Fine impression and colour. Very small repaired binding holes, otherwise fine […]
Ippitsusai BUNCHO ( Fl. c. 1765 – 92 )
Click here to view image full size. A fine full length hosoban portrait of the actor Ichikawa Benzo I in the role of Kuretake in the play Tenjiku Tokubei kokyo no torigashi performed at the Nakamura-za in the 8th month of 1768. A very damaged example is illustrated in Exhibition of Ukiyo-e by Ippitsusai Buncho, […]
Torii KIYONOBU II (1706-1763)
Click here to view image full size. A fine urushi-e hosoban showing the actors Sawamura Sojuro I ( above ) and Yamamoto Kiyoshiro I wrestling amongst bales of rice. It is impossible to be certain of the performance as records are scant, but Sojuro is probably playing the role of Sano Genzaemon and Kiyoshiro is […]
Utagawa TOYOKUNI I (1769-1825)
Click here to view image full size. The actor Ichikawa Yaozo III as Umeomaru, the loyal retainer of Kan Shojo in the Kuruma biki, “Pulling the Carriage Apart,” scene from the play Sugawara denju tenarai kagami, “ Sugawara’s Secrets of Calligraphy” performed at the Miyako Theatre 7/1796. This is one of the most celebrated scenes […]
Utagawa TOYOKUNI I (1769–1825)
Click here to view image full size. The actor Kataoka Nizaemon VII as the evil Minister of the Left Fujiwara Shihei in the Kuruma biki, “Pulling the Carriage Apart,” scene from the play Sugawara denju tenarai kagami, “ Sugawara’s Secrets of Calligraphy” performed at the Miyako Theatre 7/1796. This is one of the most celebrated […]
Ichiyusai KUNIYOSHI (1797-1861)
Click here to view image full size. An important album of 26 original sumi shijo-style drawings by Kuniyoshi folding out to 10.5 x 15.5 in; 26.5 x 39.5 cms. Various subjects. Red kiri seal on last drawing of Hotei and Kuniyoshi signature pasted onto end of album ( signature c 1847 ). The only similar […]
Ichiyusai KUNIYOSHI (1797-1861)
Click here to view image full size. A beauty powdering her face. From Kuniyoshi’s finest set of fan prints. An untitled series of at least eight designs showing young women in a state of dishabille at their toilette in front of mirrors, the corners partly concealed with cloth covers. Published c 1843-5 by Ibaya Sensaburo. […]
Torii KIYOMITSU (1735-1780)
Click here to view image full size. A hosoban benizuri-e print in beni, yellow and blue showing the actor Segawa Kikunojo II ( bottom left ) in the role of musume Kagekiyo and Ichimura Uzaemon IX ( top right ) as Osu … possibly Osutoko. “Musume” means “daughter”, while Kagekiyo was the famous general of […]
Ishikawa TOYONOBU (1711-1785)
Click here to view image full size. A wide hashira-e ( 27.5 x 10 in; 70 x 25.5 cms ). Urushi-e, hand-coloured in beni, blue, yellow, mustard and lilac. These early majestic Toyonobu prints are amongst the masterpieces of Ukiyoe. Of the utmost rarity: From a set of three prints of Beauties of the Three […]
Ichiryusai HIROSHIGE (1797-1858)
Click here to view image full size. The fish trap in Chikugo Province from Rokuju yoshu meisho zue, “Famous Places in the Sixty-Odd Provinces.” The set published by Koshimuraya Heisuke between 7/1853 and 3/1856 (this being 9/1855). This is the extremely rare first edition and possibly one of the genuine first pulls as it is […]
Tsukioka YOSHITOSHI (1839-1892)
Click here to view image full size. Onoe Kikugoro V as the Hag of Adachi Moor from the Kabuki play Adachigahara (aka Hitotsuya, “The Lonely House”) performed at the Ichimuraza Theatre 4/5/1890. One of a series of three triptychs showing half-length portraits of actors based on the Snow, Moon, Flowers theme. This being Flowers represented […]
Toyohara KUNICHIKA (1835-1900)
Click here to view image full size. The actor Ichikawa Danjuro IX in shibaraku role. A fine triptych, Kabuki juhachiban no uchi/shibaraku, “The Eighteen Famous Kabuki Plays: Shibaraku.” Published by Fukuda Kumajiro, 8/1895. Fine impression, colour and condition. Signed Oju Kunichika hitsu. Status: Sold
Toyohara KUNICHIKA (1835-1900)
Click here to view image full size. A triptych showing Danjuro IX as Yanone (arrowhead) Goro (Soga Goro). Published 1882 by Kamiyama Seishichi. Poem by Sansho the 9th (Danjuro). Very good impression and colour. Slight trimming, otherwise very good condition. Signed Oju (“by special request”) Toyohara Kunichika hitsu. Status: Sold
Rekisentei EIRI (active 1790-1810)
Click here to view image full size. An uki-e “perspective view” of a Kabuki theatre Edo Sakai-cho Shibai no zu showing Danjuro VII as Gongoro in the play Shibaraku “Wait a Moment.” He is shown on the hanamichi, the “flower path” walkway. His impressive costume consists of foot-high clogs, gigantic sleeves stretched out on bamboo […]
Utagawa TOYOKUNI I (1769-1825)
Click here to view image full size. A fine late single bust of Matsumoto Koshiro V as Tsurugisawa Danjo Saemon in the “Beneath the Floor” scene of the play Shikisemono Soga no Datezome performed at the Morita-za in the 1st month of 1813. Here the arch villain Danjo, master of the black arts, has just […]
Utagawa TOYOKUNI I (1769-1825)
Click here to view image full size. A double bust portrait showing Onoe Matsusuke I (above) as the evil lady-in-waiting Iwafuji and Iwai Kumesaburo I as Ohatsu, maidservant to lady-in-waiting Onoe, in the “Inner Garden” scene of the play Kagamiyama Kokyo no Nishiki-e performed at the Ichimura-za in the 3rd month of 1803. In this […]
Torii KIYOMITSU (1735-1785)
Click here to view image full size. The actor Nakayama Bunshichi. . Kiyomitsu was the final flowering of the Torii School and a pioneer of the polychrome print. Harunobu went on to fully exploit the technique using a variety of unusual pigments and overprinting to produce a yet larger palette unsurpassed in the following years. […]
Katsukawa SHUNSHO (1726-1792)
Click here to view image full size. The actors Ichikawa Yaozo II as the samurai Gunsuke, a retainer of the Yoshida family, and Nakamura Nakazo I as Hitokai Sota in a play performed at the Nakamura Theatre, spring 1770. Not listed by F.W. Gookin. Annotated top right by a fan of the theatre. A superb […]
Hosoda EISHI (1756-1829)
Click here to view image full size. An extremely rare hosoban showing the oiran Hanaogi with her two kamuro from the House of Ogi. This appears to have been from a series as I had another design from the set in my Catalogue 8, 1972, no 38, showing Hinazuru of Choji-ya. Another Eishi hosoban appeared […]
Utagawa TOYOKUNI I (1769-1825)
Click here to view image full size. The well-muscled bodyguard Narukami Kajinosuke played by Sawamura Sojiro IV in the play Sugata no hana azuma no date-zome performed at the Ichimura-za Theatre, 3/1812. Published by Suzuki Ihei,1812. There is a companion design to this print showing Bando Mitsugoro as Kaminari Tsurunosuke. Fine impression and colour. Very […]
Tsukioka YOSHITOSHI (1839-1892)
Click here to view image full size. A spirited original drawing showing a warrior brandishing a sword and holding a club. Sumi over the typical red underdrawing Yoshitoshi often employed. On thin paper laid onto Japanese paper. Image size 8 x 6 in; 20 x 15 cms. Status: Sold
Shibata ZESHIN (1807-1891)
Click here to view image full size. A fine original drawing in sumi and colour for the series Hana kurabe, “A Comparison of Flowers” published by Shugyokudo between c 1875 – 1890. The set of 120 prints was issued in groups of 12 enclosed in paper wrappers. This design shows new year Adonis flowers, Fukujuso, […]
Shibata ZESHIN (1807-1891)
Click here to view image full size. A fine original drawing in sumi and colour for the series Hana kurabe, “A Comparison of Flowers” published by Shugyokudo between c 1875 – 1890. The set of 120 prints was issued in groups of 12 enclosed in paper wrappers. This design shows plants and bonsai trees seen […]
Shibata ZESHIN (1807-1891)
Click here to view image full size. A fine original drawing in sumi and colour for the series Hana kurabe, “A Comparison of Flowers” published by Shugyokudo between c 1875 – 1890. The set of 120 prints was issued in groups of 12 enclosed in paper wrappers. This design shows a mouse crouching on the […]
Utagawa KUNIYOSHI ( 1797-1861 )
Click here to view image full size. One print from a set of four with title Miburi juni omoi gatsu, “Gestures for the Twelve Months.” Each “gesture” or “caricature” is being performed by a Kabuki actor: So here the 6th month is Nakamura Tsuruzo imitating the serpent of Mt Fuji ( upper right ); 7th […]
Tsukioka YOSHITOSHI ( 1839-1892 )
Click here to view image full size. A rare diptych showing the actor Ichikawa Danjuro IX as Saijo Takamori ( = Saigo Takamori ) in the play Okige no kumo harau asagochi by the playwright Kawatake Shinshichi II performed at the Shintomi-za Theatre from the 23rd of the second month, 1878. Saigo Takamori was leader […]
Utagawa KUNIYOSHI (1797-1861)
Click here to view image full size. A poem by the Heian waka poet Fujiwara no Okikaze , one of the Thirty-Six Immortals of poetry. Shows the poet with a lantern walking along the shore of Takasago Bay past one of the famous pines, all in heavy rain. His famous poem refers to the pine. […]