/category/highlights/
Katsushika HOKUSAI (1760-1849)
Click here to view image full size.
Hokusai’s interpretation of a poem by Onakatomi no Yoshinobu Ason (921-991). From an unfinished set: Hyakunin isshu uba ga etoki, “Pictures of One Hundred Poems by One Hundred Poets Explained by the Nurse.” The poems are from an anthology Hyakunin isshu, “One Hundred People, One Poem Each” compiled by the poet Fujiwara no Teika (1162-1241). The poet speaks of his love as being like the fire kept by the guards at the gate to the Imperial Palace: It burns hot only at night. There is actually some doubt that the poem can be attributed to Yoshinobu. Shows a group of off-duty Imperial carriage guards relaxing around the smoking embers of a fire. The poet with his servant is seen sitting on the distant hill. Published by Eijudo, 1835-36. A considerable number of original drawings exist for the set that were not turned into prints and are in various museums and private collections.
Fine impression, colour and condition. Signed Saki no Hokusai Manji.
Status: Available
Utagawa HIROSHIGE (1797-1858)
Click here to view image full size.
Nihonbashi yukibare, “The Nihon Bridge, Clear Weather After Snow.” From the set Meisho Edo hyakkei, “One Hundred Views of Edo.” The set published by Uoya Eikichi 1856-58 (this being 1856). The set comprises 118 prints by Hiroshige and another by Hiroshige II. However, three prints are dated 10/1858, the month following Hiroshige’s death and these are thought to be by Hiroshige II as well. They are: Ueno Yamashita, Ichigaya Hachiman and Bikunibashi. Number 1 from the set and a view of the Sumida River with Mt. Fuji in the distance. This is the starting point for the Tokaido Road.
Fine, early impression with gradation on the roofs and on Mt. Fuji. Fine colour. Margins trimmed a little, otherwise very good condition. Signed Hiroshige ga.
Status: Available
Utagawa HIROSHIGE (1797-1858)
Click here to view image full size.
Iyo Province, Saijo. From a set of 69 prints [Dai Nihon] Rokujuyoshu meisho zue, “Famous Places in the Sixty-odd Provinces [of Japan]” published by Koshihei between 1853 and 1856, this being 1853. A large furled sail in the foreground with Saiju village on the water’s edge. Beyond is Mt. Ishizuchi.
Fine impression and colour. Light album backing, otherwise very good condition. Signed Hiroshige ga.
Status: Available
Hosoda EISHI (1756-1829)
Click here to view image full size.
Two beauties examining tanzaku poetry cards from a set Ukiyo Genji hakkei, “Eight Views of Genji in the Floating World.” The designs stand alone but also form diptychs. This series compares scenes from the famous Tale of Genji novel written by the Lady Murasaki in the early 11th century with the Eight Views of Omi [Lake Biwa]. In the present case, Maboroshi rakugan (viz Katata rakugan, “Descending Geese at Katata”) is compared to chapter 41, Spirit Summoner, of the Tale of Genji where a poem composed by the Akashi Lady is in response to the grieving Genji’s poem after the nocturnal encounter with Murasaki which refers to the wild goose (aka Genji) having flown away. Published by Eijudo c 1797-99. Another impression is in the B.M., reg. no. 1931, 0427,0.8 and an impression is illustrated in Klaus J. Brandt, Hosoda Eishi, 1977, 119, no. 301. Provenance: Sold Sothebys, New York, 28/10/1980, lot 866.
Fine impression. Very good colour with yellow ground. Slight centre fold and very slight trimming, otherwise very good condition. Signed Eishi zu.
Status: Available
Ikeda EISEN (1790-1848)
Click here to view image full size.
Two beauties in front of a mirror, Ada ni torikumite, “Grudge Match” from a set Ukiyo shiju hatte, “Forty-eight Habits of the Floating World.” This was a popular title for sets of prints – especially during the next thirty years. The sub-titles are quite obtuse, whereas in later series – for example Kuniyoshi’s set of c 1846 – the meanings are self-evident. A fine double okubi-e set published by Matsumura Tatsuemon, c 1821-22. Eisen was a prolific and repetitive artist but produced some fine landscapes and okubi-e sets. Rare.
Fine impression. Slight fading and minor soil, otherwise very good condition. Signed Keisai Eisen ga.
Status: Available
Kikugawa EIZAN (1787-1867)
Click here to view image full size.
An early complete 5-sheet (pentaptych) design being a mitate-e of a daimyo’s procession along Kugenuma beach with Enoshima island and Mt. Fuji in the background. Harugasumi hana iki retsu, “Journey in the Spring Mist.” The regional feudal lords (daimyo) were required every alternative year to travel to the capital of Edo. This was a deliberately costly affair and secured their loyalty as they had to leave their families in Edo. In this design young women replace the daimyo’s retinue. Published by Kawaguchiya Uhei, 1811-14. Its rare to find 5 or 6-sheet prints complete.
Fine impression and colour. Light album backing, otherwise very good condition. Signed Kikugawa Eizan hitsu.
Status: Available
Katsushika HOKUSAI (1760-1849)
Click here to view image full size.
A sheet of original studies, sumi on thin paper, 10.5 x 15 in; 26.6 x 38 cms. Of particular interest and importance is the self-portrait in the upper right, This is another version of the famous self-portrait at the age of 83 (1842) sent to his publisher. Illustrated in Hokusai Drawings, J. Hiller, Phaidon, 1966, ill. No. 110 from the Rijksmuseum voor Volkenkunde, Leiden, Netherlands. Provenance: Ex Henri Vever collection, seal bottom right.
One small wormhole, otherwise in very good condition.
Status: Available
Click here to view image full size.
Utagawa KUNIYOSHI (1797-1861)
Click here to view image full size.
Chapter 32: Umegaye, “Plum brach” from an o-tanzaku set: Buyu nazorae Genji, “Heroic Comparisons for the Chapters of Genji.” Shows the Minamoto samurai Kajiwara Genda Kagesuye (1162-1200) fighting at Ikura-no-mori during the Genpai wars between the Taira and Minomoto clans. He has a plum branch stuck in his utsubo “quiver” in honour of his love Umegaye. The branch makes him an easy target for his enemies but he fights on regardless. Published by Ibaya Sensaburo, c 1843.
Very fine impression. Fine colour. Slightly trimmed at bottom, otherwise fine condition. Signed Cho-o-ro Kuniyoshi ga.
Status: Available
Katsukawa SHUNSHO II (Active 1818-1830)
Click here to view image full size.
Minamoto no Yoshinaka Shitenno to tomoni Kiso no okuyama ni Tengu o taiji su, “Minamoto Yoshinaka and His Four Retainers Defeat the Tengu in the Deep Mountains of Kiso.” Minamoto no Yoshinaka is seen in the centre panel, Higuchi Kanemitsu on the right holding a sword and Imai Kanehiro on the left panel. Tengu are winged demons or spirits known for their fencing abilities, have long noses or bird-like beaks, and are associated with the ascetic practise of Shugendo and wear the garb of its followers, the Yamabushi. Published by Fujiokaya Hikotaro. Rare: Another impression is in MFA, Boston, accession number 11.21594-6.
Fine impression. Very good colour and condition. Signed Shunsho ga.
Status: Available
Utagawa KUNIYOSHI (1797-1861)
Click here to view image full size.
Saito Toshimoto nyudo Ryuhon in armour struggling with a Chinese brigand underwater. From the set Taiheiki yeiyuden, “Heroic Stories of the Taiheiki.” A history of the wars of the loyalist Nitta and Kusunoki families against the Ashikaga war-lords during the second quarter of the 14th century. But in fact the subject of this set of fifty prints is the civil war of the late 16th century. Censorship restrictions imposed in the 1840s prevented publishers from illustrating historical subjects from the Tensho era 1573-92 onwards, so the publishers circumvented this by slightly altering the names of the historical figures. Published 1848-9 by Yamamoto-ya Heikichi. Robinson S62.31. One of the best designs in the set.
Fine impression and colour. Very good condition. Signed Ichiyusai Kuniyoshi ga.
Status: Available
Mori SOSEN (1747-1821)
Click here to view image full size.
A fine surimono-sized painting, light colour on silk, 7.75 x 7 in; 19.5 x 17.8 cms. Shows a female sika deer. 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 (1735-1795) artistic circle and his style is more Shijo than anything else. His animal paintings were evidently highly valued by Okyo. He was an immediate favourite with eastern collectors because of his monkey paintings at which he excelled, although he was more versatile than literature implies and highly accomplished at painting other animals. But his images of monkeys take precedence and he is considered the pre-eminent painter, east or west, on this subject. It is alleged that he lived in the woods for three years eating fruit and nuts to study the monkeys and other animals, and is also supposed to have had a cage of monkeys at the back of his house to better observe them.
Very good condition, unmounted. Signed Sosen hitsu with seals So, Sen.
Status: Available
Ichiryusai HIROSHIGE (1797-1858)
Click here to view image full size.
An original painting showing the old lighthouse at Tempozan, Osaka. To the left is the mount which was formed by earth dredged from the Ajigawa in 1831 to allow easier access for ships. In the foreground masts of moored vessels. There appear to be few images of this lighthouse. It was replaced by a lighthouse designed by the British engineer Richard Henry Brunton, the “Father of Japanese Lighthouses” in 1872. Sumi and light colour on paper, 12.75 x 20.25 in ; 32.4 x 51.4 cms.
Signed Hiroshige ga with Ichiryusai seal. Very good condition.
Status: Available
Kawanabe KYOSAI (1831-1889)
Click here to view image full size.
A large original painting, full colour on silk, image size 48 x 21.75 in; 122 x 55.25 cms. A draughtsman of great dexterity with a wild, often bizzare , imagination. Loved sake, sometimes painting under its influence. At an early stage studied under Kuniyoshi, then Maemura Towa and later Kano Chinshin before becoming an independent painter at 27. Adept at highly finshed paintings but also produced a large corpus of spontaneous paintings. Shows a standing courtesan with her kamuro. An homage to Hokusai whom he obviously admired.
Highly finished in places but also incorporating quirky elements of Hokusai’s style. Signed Hokusai hitsu-i (“Imitating Hokusai’s brush”) Shojo Kyosai. In very good condition with old double box with an untranslatable annotation on inside of lid comparing him to Hokusai. An important new discovery.
Status: Available
Ryuryukyo SHINSAI (1764-1820)
Click here to view image full size.
An original painting, sumi and light colour on silk, 32 x 11 in; 81.3 x 28 csms. Shows three classes in Japanese society: Farmer’s wife, Priest and a Samurai, forced to shelter together at the entrance to a Shinto shrine from a sudden downpour of rain. Above, a rooster and hen also shelter. These birds were allowed to roam freely around Shinto Temples. Shinsai was one of Hokusai’s best pupils. Known for his fine surimono and paintings. Signed Ryuryukyo Shinsai with Ryuryukyo seal. In good condition.
Status: Available
Click here to view image full size.