Ichiryusai HIROSHIGE (1797-1858)
Click here to view image full size.
A large and important preparatory drawing for a well know painting showing a full length beauty in a garden with autumn grasses. The finished painting is illustrated in Juzo Suzuki, Utagawa Hiroshige, 1970, no. 70 ( where it is dated to c.early 1850s ) and was exhibited in the “Masterworks of Ukiyo-e Paintings ” exhibition at the Itabashi Art Museum, 1989. Sumi and red under-drawing with pentimenti on thin paper. 34.5 x 11 in., 88 x 27.5 cms ( the finished painting measures 91 x 32.3 cms ).
Status: Sold
Click here to view image full size.
Ichiryusai HIROSHIGE (1797-1858)
Click here to view image full size.
A large and beautiful original drawing showing a full length beauty holding a fan. Sumi and red under-drawing on thin paper. 2 6.5 x 12 in., 68 x 31 cms. One of Hiroshige’s finest drawings.
Status: Sold
Click here to view image full size.
Ichiryusai HIROSHIGE (1797-1858)
Click here to view image full size.
A large original drawing most probably for a lost painting. Shows beauties in a boat with a ferry full of passengers behind. Annotations for colour, etc. Sumi and red under-drawing on thin paper. 14 .5 x 22 in., 37.5 x 56 cms.
Status: Sold
Ichiryusai HIROSHIGE (1797-1858)
Click here to view image full size.
An original preparatory sketch for a design from the set: Fifty-three Paired Stations on the Tokaido Highway A joint publication with Kunisada and Kuniyoshi published c 1845. This being Eijiri ( Station 19 ) and shows the pine Hagoromo-no Matsu on which an angel left her feather coat. It was taken by a peasant and in order to retrieve it the angel married the peasant until such time as she could get it back and fly away. Fuji in the distance. Sumi on thin paper. 14 x 10 in., 36 x 25.5 cms.
Status: Sold
Ichiryusai HIROSHIGE (1797-1858)
Click here to view image full size.
An important large study for a well known painting. Shows a full length beauty on a bridge. The finished painting has a moon above and is illustrated in Ukiyo-e Nenkan, published 1973, p. 286. From the collection of Aoki Shinzaburo. Sumi and red under-drawing with pentimenti on thin paper. 22 x 18.25 in., 56 x 46.5 cms.
Status: Sold
Ichiryusai HIROSHIGE (1797-1858)
Click here to view image full size.
A preparatory design for an unpublished ( ? ) triptych. Shows Genji ( ? ) watching figures on the bank of a river under a large willow tree. Other individuals in a boat. Some annotations for colour, etc. Sumi on thin paper. 14.25 x 30 in., 36 x 76 cms. Fully signed and sealed far right.
Status: Sold
Ichiryusai HIROSHIGE (1797-1858)
Click here to view image full size.
A large and important preparatory study for a well known painting showing Murasaki Shikibu at Ishiyama Temple looking out to sea. The painting was in the Azabu Museum but was sold at Christies, NY, 27/10/1998, lot 110. It was illustrated in “Ukiyo-e Paintings in Japanese Collections, Azabu Museum, ” supervised by Kobayashi Tadashi, Kodansha, 1995. Sumi and extensive sumi wash with pentimenti on thin paper. 19.25 x 26 in., 49 x 67 cms.
Status: Sold
Ichiryusai HIROSHIGE (1797-1858)
Click here to view image full size.
An original preparatory drawing for a published print for the set: Kokon joruri zukushi, “Collected Stories Past and Present.” Published by Sanoki, 1849-50. Shows the Barrier-Guardian Sekimori Sekibei and the Spirit of the Cherry Tree. Illustrated in Tsuneo Tamba, The Art of Hiroshige, 1965, no. 457. Sumi on thin paper with touches of red and blue. 13 x 8.75 in., 33.5 x 22 cms.
Status: Sold
Ichiryusai HIROSHIGE (1797-1858)
Click here to view image full size.
An original drawing showing two beauties, one holding an umbrella, beside a river. This appears to be the first draft for the centre sheet of the famous snow scene: Beauties and Snow at the Sumida River, published by Marujin, 1848-9. Illustrated in Tsuneo Tamba, The Art of Hiroshige, 1965, no. 17. Sumi on thin paper. 14.5 x 10.5 in., 37 x 27 cms.
Status: Sold
Ichiryusai HIROSHIGE (1797-1858)
Click here to view image full size.
Two original chuban drawings for an unpublished ( ? ) set showing beauties in interiors Sumi and pentimenti on thin paper. 13 x 9 in., 33.5 x 23 cms. Bottom design fully signed.
Status: Sold
Ichiryusai HIROSHIGE (1797-1858)
Click here to view image full size.
An original drawing showing a beauty with umbrella on the banks of a river. Most likely a sketch for one sheet of a triptych. Sumi on thin paper. 13 x 8.5 in., 33 x 22 cms. Fully signed Hiroshige hitsu and sealed three times bottom right.
Status: Sold
Ichiryusai HIROSHIGE (1797-1858)
Click here to view image full size.
An original drawing showing a party coming over the summit of a ridge with hills in the distance. Most likely a design for one sheet of a triptych. ( It is very similar to the centre sheet of a triptych Bushu Sugita-no ume bayashi published by Sanoki, c 1847-53 and may be a preliminary sketch. ) Sumi on thin paper. 13 x 9.75 in., 33.5 x 25 cms. Fully signed ( twice ) bottom right.
Status: Sold
Ichiryusai HIROSHIGE (1797-1858)
Click here to view image full size.
An original drawing showing numerous female figures and children playing and collecting shellfish in an estuary. Most likely a design for a triptych. Sumi and pentimenti on thin paper. 14 x 12 in., 35 x 30 cms.
Status: Sold
Ichiryusai HIROSHIGE (1797-1858)
Click here to view image full size.
An original preparatory drawing for a print. Possibly an unused design for the set: Fifty-three Paired Stations on the Tokaido Highway. ( There is another study for the set in the collection. ) A joint set together with Kunisada and Kuniyoshi published c 1845. Shows porters and below two female travellers. Sumi and pentimenti on thin paper. 9.5 x 9.75 in., 24.5 x 25 cms. Fully signed Hiroshige hitsu.
Status: Sold
Ichiryusai HIROSHIGE (1797-1858)
Click here to view image full size.
An original drawing showing a full length study of a woman reading a letter. This is a copy by Hiroshige of a study by another artist. Sumi on thin paper. 14 x 7.5 in., 36 x 19 cms.
Status: Sold
Ichiryusai HIROSHIGE (1797-1858)
Click here to view image full size.
An original drawing showing a full length study of a woman having just taken a bath. Sumi on thin paper with annotations for colour. 12.5 x 9.25 in., 31.5 x 23.5 cms.
Status: Sold
Ichiryusai HIROSHIGE (1797-1858)
Click here to view image full size.
A large original drawing showing beauties in a boat. The river flowing away to mountains in the distance. Two other boats in background. Three small studies at top. Sumi and light red under-drawing with pentimenti on thin paper. 26 x 19 in., 66 x 47 cms. Probably a preliminary study for a painting. Indication for Hiroshige’s signature and seal at left.
Status: Sold
Ichiryusai HIROSHIGE (1797-1858)
Click here to view image full size.
An extremely important original drawing for his famous triptych: Buyo Kanazawa hassho yakei, Showing an Evening View of the Eight Famous Sites at Kanazawa in Musashi Province. The print published by Tsutaya, Ansei IV/7, 1857. This was presumably worked-up from sketches of the sort Hiroshige made in small diaries he carried with him. ( See an example on this website in this section.) But before the hanshita-e was produced for the wood block. It’s interesting to compare with the finished print, which shows only minor differences and indicates how faithfully the hanshita-e draughtsmen followed Hiroshige’s design. Sumi and light blue wash on paper, 14.5 x 31 inches; 36.75 x 78.75 cms.
Surprisingly good condition. Professionally laid around edge onto board. Signed Hiroshige hitsu with red indication for Ichiryusai seal.
Status: Sold
Ichiryusai HIROSHIGE (1797-1858)
Click here to view image full size.
An original sumi drawing in chu-tanzaku format on thin tissue with pentimenti probably showing an azure-winged magpie amongst cherry blossom. An almost identical drawing by Hiroshige was in my catalogue 19, 1977, Birds in Japanese Prints, item no 27. Signed Hiroshige with Hiro seal.
Status: Sold
Ichiryusai HIROSHIGE (1797-1858)
Click here to view image full size.
Shows a beauty composing a letter from a set of ten prints Fukutoku gane no narikei, “Virtuous Women and the Money Tree.” Published by Aritaya Kiyoemon, c. 1847-50. The money tree branches make up the kanji characters of the sub-title, in this case Shuseki, the tree of good writing.
Very good impression, colour and condition. Signed Hiroshige ga.
Status: Sold
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
Ichiryusai HIROSHIGE (1797-1858)
Click here to view image full size.
One of Hiroshige’s most beautiful triptychs: Sumidagawa setchu no zu,“The Sumida River in Snow” from a series Edo meisho shiki no nagame, “Views of the Famous Places of Edo in the Four Seasons.” Shows a ferry landing on the Sumida with a beauty disembarking from a boat and another pair ready to board. Published by Maruya Jinpachi, c 1847-8. Rare.
Very good impression and colour. Horizontal centre fold, otherwise good condition. Signed Hiroshige ga.
Status: Sold
Ichiryusai HIROSHIGE (1797-1858)
Click here to view image full size.
An excessively rare triptych showing the interior of a large mansion where a private performance of Kabuki interlude plays is being performed. Some of the most famous actors of the day are shown: Bando Mitsugoro III, Iwai Hanshiro V, and Ichikawa Danjuro VII. One of Hiroshige’s earliest prints published c 1818-20 when Hiroshige was 22-24 years old. Two other impressions appear to be known: The Tamba impression illustrated in The Art of Hiroshige, Tsuneo Tamba, 1965, no.122, p.58; and the Suzuki copy illustrated in Utagawa Hiroshige, Juzo Suzuki, 1970, no.86, which is the impression shown in the Memorial Exhibition of Hiroshige, Number Eighteen, Ukiyo-e Art, The Japan Ukiyo-e Society, 1968, no.1.
Good impression and colour. Some small areas of expert restoration, otherwise good condition. Signed “By special request” Hiroshige ga.
Status: Sold
Ichiryusai HIROSHIGE (1797 – 1858)
Click here to view image full size.
Gishi katakiuchi no zu, “Revenge of the Loyal Retainers.” The ronin assemble before the castle of Ko no Moronao before their attack. Published 1846 by Aritaya Kiyo-e mon. Rare.
Very good impression and colour. Some edge soil. Signed Hiroshige ga.
Status: Sold
Ichiryusai HIROSHIGE (1797 – 1858)
Click here to view image full size.
Taira no Kiyomori haunted by visions: As he was dying Kiyomori believed he saw hundreds of skulls in his snow-covered garden and feared them to be the remains of his victims killed during his rise to power. Published by Ibaya Kyubei c 1845. The best musha-e by Hiroshige.
Fine impression, colour and condirtion. Signed Hiroshige ga.
Status: Sold
Ichiryusai HIROSHIGE (1797-1858)
Click here to view image full size.
The beach of the Dancing Girl in Harima Province from Rokuju-yo shu meisho zue, “Famous Places in the Sixty-Odd Provinces”. The set published by Koshihei between 1853-1856.
Very good early impression showing strong woodgrain. Fine colour and condition. Signed Hiroshige ga.
Status: Sold
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
Ichiryusai HIROSHIGE (1797-1858)
Click here to view image full size.
Hyuga Province, Yudzu-no Minato from Rokuju yoshu meisho zu, “Famous Places in the sixty-Odd Provinces.” The set published by Koshimuraya Heisuke between 7/1853 and 3/1856 (this being 1856). Shows tea houses looking out over the bay.This is the extremely rare first edition.
Superb impression of the earliest state with beautiful bokashi and woodgrain showing on all blocks. Fine colour and condition. Signed Hiroshige ga.
Status: Sold
Ichiryusai HIROSHIGE (1797-1858)
Click here to view image full size.
An extremely rare uncut fan from a set Shokoku meisho, “Famous Places in Various Provinces.” Musashi Yaguchi no Watashi. Although ostensibly a set of landscape prints, Hiroshige inserts popular kabuki scenes into the locations. This shows the ferryman Watashimori Tombei with his daughter O-Fune in the famous scene from the play Shinrei Yaguchi no Watashi showing them before the bell tower beside the Tama River. Published 1843-46 by Ibayakyu (Ibaya Kyubei). Another from this set is illustrated in Rupert Faulkner, Hiroshige Fan Prints, V & A, 2001, p 137, no 106 (and illustrated on the cover). Two other designs from the set are illustrated in Hiroshige Fan Prints, Unsodo, 2010, pls 132 and 133. Interestingly, the latter has identical binding holes near right edge to the example offered here. An indication that these probably came from the same sample book the publisher kept to take orders from clients. This accounts for its survival. Possibly the only impression extant.
Very fine impression and colour. Small binding holes near right edge, otherwise very good condition. Signed Hiroshige ga.
Status: Sold
Ichiryusai HIROSHIGE (1797-1858)
Click here to view image full size.
Oi, a suburb of present day Ena City, is in the southern foothills of the central mountain range now known as the Japan Alps. Shows a group of travellers heavily protected against the snow and cold. From Kisokaido rokujukyutsugi no uchi, “Sixty-Nine Stations of the Kisokaido.” 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 ). One of Hiroshige’s most famous designs.
Very good impression. The earliest impressions have gradation on the Kiso range in the background and in the sky. Some versions are also known with splashed gofun. Very slight centre fold. Very good colour. Signed Hiroshige ga.
Status: Sold
Ichiryusai HIROSHIGE (1797-1858)
Click here to view image full size.
Nagakubo, one of the major designs from Kisokaido rokujukyutsugi no uchi, “Sixty-Nine Stations of the Kisokaido.” 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 ). Shows travellers near and on the Wada Bridge over the Yodo River. As with most important compositions from the set, there are numerous states where the printers/publishers experimented with alternative wipings to alter the design: On some impressions the far mountains are not seen; on others they are graded-off to the right. The far rail on the bridge comes and goes and the blue gradation on the river varies. The earliest state appears to omit the mountains and have bokashi around the moon. ( Late editions also omit the mountains. )
Very good early impression with extra bokashi across the moon. Remargined on the two vertical sides, otherwise very good condition. Very good colour. Signed Hiroshige ga.
Status: Sold
Ichiryusai HIROSHIGE (1797-1858) ET AL
Click here to view image full size.
Four volumes ( vols 5, 6, 8, 10 ) Ehon miyage, “Souvenirs from Edo.” The series of ten volumes was published between 1850 ( vol 1 ) to 1867 ( vol 10 ). Originally intended to be four volumes, the other books were gradually added. Volume 8 has a preface stating that Hiroshige had passed away but that he had left enough drawings to continue the series. Volume 10 was designed by Hiroshige II. Very clean good impressions with original covers and title slips. One hole on volume 6, otherwise very good condition. Each book also has the original paper slip-cases sewn on ( rare ). These have saved the covers and especially the title slips which are almost mint. Publisher Kinkodo, Kikuya Kozaburo, 1850 – 67.
Status: Sold
Ichiryusai HIROSHIGE (1797-1858)
Click here to view image full size.
Shionada from Kisokaido rokujukyutsugi no uchi, “Sixty-nine Stations of the Kisokaido.” 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). Shows boatmen and river porters in the early morning waiting for trade on the banks of the Chikuma River. The river was broad here and the ferry did not always cross. The porters would be engaged to take travellers across on platforms or even on their backs.
Fine and extremely early impression. The corner of the publisher’s seal always shows broken off, even on the earliest impressions. Fine colour. Left border trimmed, otherwise fine condition. Signed Hiroshige ga.
Status: Sold
Ichiryusai HIROSHIGE (1797-1858)
Click here to view image full size.
Full moon at Takanawa. A bijin seated beside her palanquin at a tea house. A mitate set: Edo Murasaki meisho Genji, “Murasaki’s Genji in Famous Places of Edo.” Based on the Genji Monogatari with stylised clouds above and below in Yamato-e style. Published by Kinseido c1849-53. A very rare set: Late impressions being unknown.
Fine impression and colour. Light crease in left and right margin, otherwise fine
condition. Signed Hiroshige ga.
Status: Sold
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 earlier than the Pulverer first edition. See my blog.
Superb impression of the earliest state with beautiful bokashi and woodgrain showing on all blocks. Fine colour. Two small paper flaws at top, otherwise fine condition. Full margins. Signed Hiroshige ga.
Status: Sold