Kitao SHIGEMASA (1739-1820)
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A large panel, 12.5 x 16.75 in; 31.5 x 42.5 cms in two shades of beni, yellow and blue (partially faded). Published by Eijudo c. 1768-72. Title in right panel: Uki-e Kanadehon Chushingura youchi no zu, “The Night Attack from the Storehouse of Loyalty, New Perspectives.” On the left border is written: Furyu Edo goshikizumi ganso, Eijudo Hibino, “ The original of elegant Edo pictures in five colours, Eijudo Hibino [Nishimuraya Yohachi]” This publisher considered himself the inventor of benizuri-e. Shows Act 11 of the Chushingura. This famous story revolves around the suicide of Enya Hangan in 1701. Forced to draw his sword in the Shogun’s palace by the goading of the courtier Moronao, he has no option but to commit seppuku. His retainers become Ronin and vow revenge. This Act shows the night attack by the 47 Ronin led by Yuranosuke on Moronao’s house. He is seen lower left confronted before his assassination. The Chushingura was an 11 act bunraku puppet play written in 1748. Shigemasa had a long career and was founder of the Kitao School. A prolific book illustrator including collaborations with Shunsho. Designed a number of these uki-e, western perspective prints. Extremely rare: One other impression is in the Achenbach Foundation, S.F., acc. no. 54755.84. An early rendition of this famous tale.
Very good impression and colour. Some careful restoration with slight soil and fold marks, but given the date and size in very good condition. Signed Kitao Shigemasa dzu.
Status: Sold
Kitao SHIGEMASA (1739–1820)
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A chuban print showing three children. One ( centre ) playing a ko-tsuzumi; to the left a child playing a bamboo flute and on the right a small taiko being beaten. They wear aprons with images of a horse, monkey and cock. The Chinese zodiacal symbols. Possibly one of a set of four. Published c 1800. Ex collection Walter von Scheven, 1878 – 1950, and purchased by him at Altkunst, Berlin in 1929.
Superb impression: The outlines of the figures are heavily blind-printed. Very fine colour and condition. Unsigned.
Status: Sold
Kitao SHIGEMASA (1739-1820)
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A hosoban showing the actors Ichikawa Komazo II (above right) in the role of Honcho Tsunagoro and Otani Hiroemon II (below) as Hantoki Kuroemon. The play was the second item (nibanme) on the programme which came after the first play Hatsuakinai omise Soga performed at the Nakamura-za Theatre, Spring 1767. The shop sign behind the actors reads Kinoeneya. Published by Miyaji, 1767.
Fine impression. Slight fading, otherwise very good colour and condition. Signed Kitao Shigemasa ga.
Status: Sold
Kitao SHIGEMASA (1739-1820) and Katsukawa SHUNSHO (1726-1792)
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Seiro bijin awase sugata kagami, Mirror of Beautiful Women of the Green Houses, published by Tsutaya Juzaburo, Anei 5, 1776. Complete in three volumes divided into Spring and Summer in volume 1 and Autumn and Winter in volume 2. Considered to be one of the great “choice” colour printed books. Very rare complete.
Lacking title slips. Light sumi affecting 2,5 designs. Minor fading and marks and repaired wormage but generally a very good example of this fine book.
Status: Sold
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Kitao SHIGEMASA (1739-1820)
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Kanzashi no seiran, “Clearing Weather of the Hairpin” from a chuban set Jochu tedogu hakkei, “Eight Views of Women’s Utensils.” Published c. 1777. Another from the set published in the Clarence Buckingham Collection of Japanese Prints, Margaret O. Gentles, vol. II, The Art Institute of Chicago, 1965, no. 21, p. 283.
Very good impression, colour and condition. Unsigned.
Status: Sold
Kitao SHIGEMASA ( 1739-1820 )
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A chuban print showing silkworm cultivation. No. 4 from Kaiko yashinai gusa, “The Occupation of Silkworm Cultivation.” The set designed with Shunsho ( nos. 1,3,6,8,11,12 ). Shigemasa also collaborated with Shunsho in 1776 on the book A Mirror of Beautiful Women of the Green Houses. No publisher given but published 1772.
Fine impression.Oxidation of the gofun and orange pigment but exceptional colour preservation for a print of this date. Fine condition. Signed Kitao Shigemasa ga.
Status: Sold
Kitao SHIGEMASA (1739-1820)
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A chuban print. No. 7 from Kaiko yashinai gusa, the occupation of silk worm cultivation. Shows girls watching the moths laying eggs on a piece of paper. No publisher given but published 1772. Even better known as a book illustrator. Also an accomplished painter.
Fine impression. Very good colour. Fine condition. Signed Shigemasa ga.
Status: Sold
Santo KYODEN (Kitao MASANOBU) (1761-1816)
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A pair of original paintings, full colour on silk, image size 38.5 x 15.5 in; 97.75 x 39.5 cms. Shows a courtesan on the left with a portrait of a novelist on the right. The paintings are signed “By special request” and were presumably commissioned by the novelist showing his paramour. I have not identified the novelist. Masanobu was a pupil of Shigemasa and was one of the leading authors and illustrators of kibyoshi, ehon and kyoka anthologies as well as being a painter and print artist. He illustrated the fine set of double-oban prints of courtesans in 1783-4: Yoshiwara keisai shin bijin awase jihitsu kagami. These painting must come from around this date as the pose of the courtesan is very similar to some of the figures in the above album. A controversial figure who ran foul of the authorities in 1789, subsequently ceasing to use the name Kitao Masanobu and thereafter his paintings are always spontaneous in an abbreviated style, often quite slight and signed Kyoden. Paintings fully finished like this are rare. In generally very good condition, although some loss of gofun. Signed Oju Kyoden Masanobu ga on each painting.
Status: Available
Selected Reference Titles
Listed here are selected titles of reference books that I refer to most regularly – this is not an exhaustive list!
Asano, Shugo and Clark, Timothy, The Passionate Art of Kitagaway Utamaro, Asahi Shimbun, 1995
Forrer, Matthi and Goncourt, Edmond de, Hokusai, Rizzoli International Publications, 1988
Gentles, Margarent O., The Clarence Buckingham Collection of Japanese Prints, Volume 2 Haranobu, Koryusai,Shigemasa, their followers and contemporaries , The Art Institute of Chicago, 1955
Gunsaulus, Helen C., The Clarence Buckingham Collection of Japanese Prints, Volume 1 The Primitives, The Art Institute of Chicago, 1955
Hillier, Jack, The uninhibited brush, Japanese Art in the Shijo Style, Hugh M. Moss Ltd, 1974
Hillier, Jack, The Art of the Japanese Book, 2 volumes, Southeby Publications, 1987
Hirano Chie, Kiyonaga A Study of His Life and Works, Harvard University Press 1939
Keyes, Roger, The Art of Surimono, Privately Published Japanese Woodblock Prints and Books in the Chester Beatty Library, Dublin, Southeby Publications, 1985
Keyes, Roger, The Art of Surimono, two volumes, Southeby Publications, 1985
Koop, Albert J., and Ianda, Hogitaro, Japanese Names and How to Read Them, Routledge & Kegan Paul Ltd., 1923
Lane, Richard, Images from the Floating World, The Japanese Print Including a Dictionary of Ukiyo-e, Oxford University Press, 1978
Mitchell, C.H., The Illustrated Books of Nanga, Maruyama, Shijo and Other Related Schools of Japan, Dawson’s Book Shop, 1972
Robinson, B.W., Kuniyoshi, The Warrior Prints, Phaidon Press, 1982
Schaap, Robert, Heroes & Ghosts, Japanese Prints by Kuniyoshi 1797 – 1861, Hotei Publishing, 1998
Suzuki, Juzo, Utagawa Hiroshige, The Nihon Keizai Shimbun, 1970
Tamba, Tsuneo, The Art of Hiroshige, Asahi Shimbun, 1965
Turk, Frank A., The Prints of Japan, Arco Publications, 1966
Van den Ing, Eric and Schaap, Robert, Beauty & Violence, Japanese Prints by Yoshitoshi 1839 – 1892, Havilland Press, Society for Japanese Arts, 1992
Katsukawa SHUNSHO ( 1726-1792 )
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An extremely important painting by one of the most important artists of his day. One of the great ukiyo-e print designers – especially of actor prints. He lived in Edo and first studied under Katsukawa Shunsui and Ko Sukoku. Little is known of his private life. He had many able pupils including Hokusai. The seal he used had Hayashi on the side of a jar ( tsubo ), hence he was called Tsubo. In 1776, together with Kitao Shigemasa, illustrated the famous book Seiro bijin awase sugata kagami. Also the Ehon butai ogi with Buncho in 1770.
This was one of the paintings chosen to be exhibited at the Isetan Department Store to commemorate the Tokyo Olympics in 1964. The exhibit arranged by The Mainichi Newspapers. A committee consisting of Mr. Seiichiro Takahashi, president of the Japan Art Academy, Mr. Issho Tanaka, director of the Tokyo National Cultural Assets Research Institute, Mr. Seiroku Noma, an historian, Mr. Muneshige Narasaki, chairman of the Ukiyoe Association, Mr. Sadao Kikuchi of the Tokyo National Museum, Mr. Teruji Yoshida, an Ukiyoe connoisseur, Mr. Fusui Kaneko, an Ukiyoe connoisseur, Mr. Yasunosuke Ogiwara, an Ukiyoe connoisseur, and other collectors vetted all the paintings and they represented the best that could be put together at the time. Full colour on silk including gold leaf. Exquisitly painted. Slightly creased otherwise in good condition. Double box with inscription in gold. Image size 39 x 12.5 in; 99 x 31.75 cms. Painted c 1781-9.
Signed Katsu Shunsho ga with seal. Ex collection Oda Eisaku, a famous art dealer and collector.
Status: Sold
Katsukawa SHUNSHO (1726?-1792)
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An original painting, sumi and full colour on silk, 32.25 x 10 in; 82 x 25.5 cms. An important print artist and his paintings being considered one of the glories of Ukiyo-e. Produced a considerable number of hosoban actor prints from the late 1760s on as well as collaborating on the Ehon butai ogi illustrated book with Buncho in 1770 and Seiro bijin awase sugata kagami with Kitao Shigemasa in 1776. He had many pupils including Shunko, Shun’ei and Hokusai. Shows a court beauty reclining and reading a book. The painting of the face, hair and the lacquer stand holding the cloth screen are exceptional. Painted c. 1789. In very good condition.
Signed Katsu Shunsho ga with seal Jui.
Status: Sold
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Santo KYODEN (Kitao MASANOBU) (1761-1816)
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An original painting, full colour on paper, image size 47 x 15.5 in; 119.5 x 39.5 cms. A pupil of Kitao Shigemasa, he was one of the leading authors and illustrators of kibyoshi, ehon and kyoka anthologies. Also produced prints of beauties including the fine set of double-oban prints of courtesans in 1783-4: Yoshiwara keisei shin bijin awase jihitsu kagami. A controversial figure who ran foul of the authorities in 1789; he subsequently ceased using the name Kitao Masanobu and thereafter his paintings are always spontaneous in an abbreviated style, often quite slight and signed Kyoden. The example offered here showing a parading courtesan with her lantern behind her is more finished than most. The calligraphy above by Kyoden. In very good condition with box guaranteed by Tosuke Kimura.
Signed Kyoden gasan, “Painted and inscribed by Kyoden.” Seals Santo Kyoden, Seishu koji and another.
Status: Sold
Utagawa HIROSHIGE II (1829-1869)
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Sesshu Nunobiki no taki, “The Nunobiki Waterfall in Settsu Province,” from a set Shokoku meisho hyakkei, “One Hundred Famous Views in the Various Provinces.” The set published by Uoya Eikichi between 1859 and 1861 (this being 1859). He was the pupil of Hiroshige, given the name Shigenobu. After Hiroshige’s death he married his adopted daughter and became Hiroshige II. The couple were divorced in 1865. She went on to marry another pupil of her father’s – Shigemasa, who became Hiroshige III.
Superb impression and colour with extensive mica and woodgrain. Fine condition. Signed “The second” Hiroshige ga.
Status: Sold
Katsukawa SHUNSHO (1726-1792)
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The actor Otani Hiroemon III in an unidentified role leaning forward with a sword in his mouth. Shunsho was a prolific designer of actor prints as well as views of the green room, wrestlers and bijin. He also collaborated with Kitao Shigemasa on the fine Seiro bijin awase sugata kagami of 1776. Published c 1770. Another (partially faded) impression is in the MFA Boston, 21.4148. A fine design.
Very good impression, colour and condition. Signed Shunsho ga with Hayashi/tsubo seal.
Status: Sold
Artists
( A to Z )
Kyogado ASHIKUNI ( Fl. c. 1807 – 1818 )
Gigado ASHIYUKI ( Fl. c. 1814 – 1833 )
Ki BAITEI ( 1734 – 1810 )
Takizawa BAKIN ( 1767 – 1848 )
Ono BAKUFU ( 1888 – 1976 )
Georges BIGOT ( 1860 – 1927 )
Kawamura BUMPO ( 1779 – 1821 )
Ippitsusai BUNCHO ( Fl. c. 1765 – 1792 )
Toyohara CHIKANOBU ( 1838 – 1912 )
Kishi CHIKUDO ( 1826 – 1897 )
Tsubaki CHINZAN ( 1801 – 1854 )
Eishosai CHOKI ( Fl. c. 1756 – 1808 ). See also SHIKO
Rekisentei EIRI ( Fl. c. 1790 – 1800 )
Keisai EISEN ( 1790 – 1848 )
Hosoda EISHI ( 1756 – 1829 )
Hosoda EISHO ( Fl. c. 1780 – 1800 )
Ichirakutei EISUI ( Fl. c. 1790 – 1823 )
Kikugawa EIZAN ( 1787 – 1867 )
Hirano HAKUHO ( 1879 – 1957 )
Elizabeth KEITH ( 1887 – 1956 )
Imao KEINEN ( 1845 – 1924 )
Yashima GAKUTEI ( 1786 – 1868 )
Ogata GEKKO ( 1859 – 1920 )
Adachi GINKO ( Fl. c. 1847 – 1897 )
Matsumura GOSHUN ( 1752 – 1811 )
GYOSAI. See Kawanabe KYOSAI
Hirano HAKUHO ( 1879 – 1957 )
Suzuki HARUNOBU ( 1724 – 1770 )
Kawase HASUI ( 1883 – 1957 )
Kitagawa HIDEMARO ( Fl. c. early 19th century )
Kinoshita HIRONOBU ( Fl. c. 1851 – 1870 )
Gosotei HIROSADA ( Fl. c. 1847 – 1863 )
Ichiryusai HIROSHIGE ( 1797 – 1858 )
Ichiryusai HIROSHIGE II ( 1826 – 1869 )
Ando HIROSHIGE III ( 1843 – 1894 )
Nakamura HOCHU ( Fl. c. late 18th to early 19th century )
Sakai HOITSU ( 1761 – 1828 )
Totoya HOKKEI ( 1780 – 1850 )
Teisai HOKUBA ( 1771 – 1844 )
Shunkosai HOKUEI (Active 1824-1837)
Katsushika HOKUGA ( Fl. c. 1830 )
Shotei HOKUJU ( Fl. c. 1789 – 1818 )
Katsushika HOKUSAI ( 1760 – 1849 ). Also used numerous other names such as: SORI, SHUNRO, SHINSAI
Shokosai HOKUSHU ( Fl. c. 1808 – 1832 )
KEISAI. See Kitao MASAYOSHI
Suzuki KIITSU ( 1796 – 1858 )
Kitagawa KIKUMARO ( Fl. c. ? – 1830 ). See TSUKIMARO
Kobayashi KIYOCHIKA ( 1847 – 1915 )
Torii KIYOHIRO ( Fl. c. 1737 – 1771 )
Torii KIYOMASA ( Fl. c. 1700 – 1722 )
KIYOMINE. See Torii KIYOMITSU II
Torii KIYOMITSU ( 1735 – 1785 )
Torii KIYOMITSU II ( 1787 – 1868 ). See KIYOMINE
Torii KIYONAGA ( 1752 – 1815 )
Torii KIYONOBU ( 1664 – 1729 )
Torii KIYONOBU II ( 1706 – 1763 )
Torii KIYOTSUNE ( Fl. c. 1757 – 1779 )
Isoda KORYUSAI ( Fl. c. 1767 – 1788 )
Ohara KOSON ( 1877 – 1945 ). See SHOSON
Torii KOTONDO ( 1900 – 1976 )
Toyohara KUNICHIKA ( 1835 – 1900 )
Utagawa KUNIHIRO ( Fl. c. 1815 – 1843 )
Ichiunsai KUNIHISA ( 1832 – 1891 )
Utagawa KUNINAO ( 1793 – 1854 )
Utagawa KUNISADA ( 1786 – 1865 )
Utagawa KUNISADA II ( 1823 – 1880 )
Utagawa KUNISATO ( ? – 1858 )
Utagawa KUNITERU ( 1808 – 1876 )
KUNITERU. See Utagawa SADASHIGE
Utagawa KUNITERU II ( 1829 – 1874 )
Utagawa KUNIYASU ( 1794 – 1832 )
Ichiyusai KUNIYOSHI ( 1797 – 1861 )
Santo KYODEN. See Kitao MASANOBU
Kawanabe KYOSAI ( 1831 – 1889 ). See GYOSAI
Okumura MASANOBU ( 1686 – 1764 )
KitaoMASANOBU ( 1761 – 1816 ). See Santo KYODEN
Kitao MASAYOSHI ( 1764 – 1824 ). See KEISAI
Oishi MATORA ( 1794 – 1833 )
Hishikawa MORONOBU ( Fl. c. 1618 – 1694 )
Nishimura NANTEI ( 1775 – 1834 )
Utagawa NOBUKATSU ( Fl. c. 1830 – 1844 )
Watanabe NOBUKAZU ( Fl. c. late 19th century )
Hishikawa RYUKOKU ( Fl. c. 1808 – 1816 )
Jokei RYUKOSAI ( Fl. 1772 – 1816 )
Gokitei SADAFUSA ( Fl. c. 1825 – 1850 )
Hasegawa SADAHARU ( Fl. c. 1830 – 1844 )
Gokotei SADAKAGE ( Fl. c. 1818 – 1844 )
Utagawa SADAHIDE ( 1807 – 1873 )
Hasegawa SADANOBU ( 1809 – 1879 )
Utagawa SADASHIGE ( Fl. c. mid 19th century ). See KUNITERU
Gofutei SADATORA ( Fl. c. 1825 )
Yamaguchi SHIGEHARU ( 1803 – 1853 )
Kitao SHIGEMASA ( 1739 – 1820 )
Nishimura SHIGENAGA ( 1697 ? – 1756 )
Nishimura SHIGENOBU ( Fl. c. 1724 – 1735 )
SHIKO. See Eishosai CHOKI
Ryuryukyo SHINSAI ( 1764 – 1820 )
Ito SHINSUI ( 1898 – 1972 )
Kojima SHOGETSU ( Fl. c. 1880 – 1890 )
SHOSON. See Ohara KOSON
Takahashi SHOTEI ( 1871 – 1945 )
Yamamoto SHOUN ( 1870 – 1965 )
Yamakawa SHUHO ( 1898 – 1944 )
Katsukawa SHUNCHO ( Fl. c. 1780 – 1795 )
Takehara SHUNCHOSAI ( Fl. c. 1772 – 1801 )
Katsukawa SHUN’EI ( 1762 – 1819 )
Katsukawa SHUNKO ( 1743 – 1812 )
Hishikawa SHUNKYO ( Fl. c. early 19th century )
Kubo SHUNMAN ( 1757 – 1820 )
Katsukawa SHUNSEN ( Fl. c. 1762 – 1830 )
Natori SHUNSEN ( 1886 – 1960 )
Gatoken SHUNSHI ( Fl. c. 1820 – 1828 )
Katsukawa SHUNSHO ( 1726 – 1792 )
Katsukawa SHUNTEI ( 1770 – 1820 )
Katsukawa SHUNZAN ( Fl. c. 1782 – 1798 )
Yamaguchi SOKEN ( 1759 – 1834 )
Ikeno TAIGA ( 1723 – 1776 )
Katsukawa TERUSHIGE ( Fl. c. 1715 – 1725 )
Mori TETSUZAN (1775-1841)
Migita TOSHIHIDE ( 1863 – 1925 )
Mizuno TOSHIKATA ( 1866 – 1908 )
Okumura TOSHINOBU ( Fl. c. 1717 – 1750 )
Utagawa TOYOHARU ( 1735 – 1814 )
Utagawa TOYOHIRO ( 1773 – 1828 )
Utagawa TOYOKUNI ( 1769 – 1825 )
Utagawa TOYOKUNI II ( 1777 – 1835 ). See TOYOSHIGE
Yamamura TOYONARI ( 1885 – 1942 )
Ishikawa TOYONOBU ( 1711 – 1785 )
TOYOSHIGE. See Utagawa TOYOKUNI II
TSUKIMARO. See Kitagawa KIKUMARO
Kitano TSUNETOMI ( 1880 – 1947 )
Toyokawa UMEKUNI ( Fl. c. 1816 – 1826 )
Kitagawa UTAMARO ( 1753 – 1806 )
Kitagawa UTAMARO II ( ? – 1831 )
Inoue YASUJI ( 1864 – 1889 )
Hiroshi YOSHIDA ( 1876 – 1950 )
Ipposai YOSHIFUJI ( 1828 – 1887 )
Utagawa YOSHIIKU ( 1833 – 1904 )
Utagawa YOSHIKATA ( Fl. c. 1841 – 1864 )
Utagawa YOSHIKAZU ( Fl. c. 1850 – 1870 )
Toyokawa YOSHIKUNI ( Fl. c. 1803 – 1840 )
Utagawa YOSHIMUNE ( 1817 – 1880 )
Ichiyosai YOSHITAKI ( 1841 – 1899 )
Utagawa YOSHITORA ( Fl. c. 1850 – 1880 )
Taiso YOSHITOSHI ( 1839 – 1892 )
Utagawa YOSHITSURU ( Fl. c. 1840 – 1850 )
Ichieisai YOSHITSUYA ( 1822 – 1866 )
Mori YOSHIYUKI ( 1835 – 1879 )
Shibata ZESHIN ( 1807 – 1891 )
Kitagawa UTAMARO (1753-1806)
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No. 7 from a set of 12 prints: Joshoku kaiko tewazagusa, showing women engaged in the sericulture (silkworm) industry. This was traditionally the domain of women. The colour scheme is red-avoiding (murasaki-e) using predominantly purple. This stage of the process shows the metamorphosis – the winged moth stage – when silkworms are used to lay eggs. This set is taken verbatim from the Shunsho/Shigemasa set of chuban prints, Kaiko yashinai-gusa. (See elsewhere on this site for a Shunsho example.) Published 1798-1800 by Tsuru-ya Kiemon.
Fine impression. Fine colour, perfectly retained. Very good condition; full size. Signed Utamaro hitsu.
Status: Sold