Katsukawa SHUNKO (1743-1812)
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An original drawing showing the actor Ichikawa Danjuro V in an unidentified role. Drawn c mid 1780s. Such drawings from this period are very rare. Indeed, any prior to the 1810s are rare. Ex collection Tanizaki Junichiro ( the major Japanese writer: Tade kuu mushi, “Some Prefer Nettles,” etc ). And sold by the Kabutoya Gallery, San Francisco, c 1976. Guaranteed by Suzuki Juzo of the National Diet Library. Laid around edges, 9.5 x 6.5 in; 24 x 16.5 cms. Sold as is with some wormage etc.
Status: Sold
Ichiryusai HIROSHIGE (1797-1858)
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An extremely large and important drawing showing beauties on a restaurant verandah overlooking the Sumida river. A preparatory study for a painting which was either not executed or has been lost. Although an abbreviated version is illustrated in Ukiyoe Taikei, vol 11, no 67 which gives the location as the Kawaguchi-ro restaurant. Sumi and pentimenti on thin paper. 19 x 37 in., 48 x 94 cms.
Status: Sold
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Ichiryusai HIROSHIGE (1797-1858)
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A large and extremely important drawing. A detailed preparatory design for a well know painting. Shows a party beside a lake. This drawing also shows a back view of Hiroshige ( the seated figure with shaved head beneath the tree on the right ). Hiroshige is known to have shaved his head to become a Buddhist monk in 1856, so this study must date from that time. It’s interesting to compare with the finished painting which Hiroshige simplified, leaving out figures and the dog at bottom right. Sumi and pentimenti with annotations on thin paper. 40 x 17.5 in., 101 x 44 cms. The painting is illustrated in the “200th Anniversary of the Birth of Hiroshige” exhibition catalogue, Tokyo Odakyu Museum, 1996, no. 316, supervised by Prof. Kobayashi Tadashi.
Status: Sold
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Ichiryusai HIROSHIGE (1797-1858)
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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
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Ichiryusai HIROSHIGE (1797-1858)
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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
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Ichiryusai HIROSHIGE (1797-1858)
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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)
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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)
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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)
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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)
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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)
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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)
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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)
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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)
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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)
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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)
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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)
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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)
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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)
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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)
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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
Toyohara KUNICHIKA (1835-1900)
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A wonderful album of 12 spontaneous drawings to show his mastery of the usual gamut of subjects covered by ukiyoe artists: Shibaraku; The Wind God; Daikoku; Asahina; bijin sleeping; Daruma; Tametomo ?; Hotei; a monkey with it’s lead; a storm dragon; a peasant girl watching a cuckoo against the moon, and Kagekiyo breaks prison. This is the sort of item that, if one were lucky, could be bought occasionally in Japan years ago, but which seems to have disappeared. It also reveals how good Kunichika could be. An artist who carried on the traditional woodblock form into the Meiji period. Sumi and full colour on paper, 6.5 x 7.75 inches; 16.6 x 19.8 cms. Some slight repaired wormage, otherwise good condition. Guaranteed at the end as by Kunichika by Eisai Fukunaga Kimiyoshi and dated Taisho 13 ( 1924 )
Status: Sold
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Ichiryusai HIROSHIGE (1797-1858)
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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
Utagawa KUNISATO (? – 1858)
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A fine oban drawing, sumi and light colour, showing the 11th scene of the Chushingura. The drawing is relatively finished and in the state to be submitted to the official censor. ( See Aratame plus date seal Tiger 4 [ 1854 ]. ) There are instructions in red at right side indicating changes to the size of the kanji characters.
Good condition. Laid onto Japanese paper. Signed Ichiyosai Kunisato ga.
Status: Sold
Hashiguchi GOYO (1880-1921)
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A fine drawing, pencil on thick paper, 16.75 x 11.5 in., 42.5 x 29 cms., c 1916-20, showing a seated nude ( the model Tomi ? ), her arm outstretched on a large towel. Although Goyo used sumi and brush to draw, he was particularly fond of the pencil and his best studies are usually in this form, on thick, light tan paper mixing hard and soft graphite. He first came to prominence with his illustrations for the famous Soseki novel I Am a Cat published in 1905. Sealed Goyo. Fine condition.
Status: Sold
Hashiguchi GOYO (1880-1921)
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A fine drawing, pencil on thick paper, 16.75 x 11.5 in., 42.5 x 29 cms., c 1916-20, showing a seated nude ( the model Tomi ? ), her arm outstretched on a large towel. Although Goyo used sumi and brush to draw, he was particularly fond of the pencil and his best studies are usually in this form, on thick, light tan paper mixing hard and soft graphite. He first came to prominence with his illustrations for the famous Soseki novel I Am a Cat published in 1905. Sealed Goyo. Fine condition.
Status: Sold
Hashiguchi GOYO (1880-1921)
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A fine drawing, pencil on thick paper, 15 x 11.5 in., 38 x 30 cms., c 1916-20, showing a nude side view of a young woman ( the model Tomi ? ). Although Goyo used sumi and brush to draw, he was particularly fond of the pencil and his best studies are usually in this form, on thick, light tan paper mixing hard and soft graphite. He first came to prominence with his illustrations for the famous Soseki novel I Am a Cat published in 1905. Sealed Goyo. Fine condition.
Status: Sold
Ichiyosai KUNIYOSHI (1797-1861)
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An extremely interesting and amusing preparatory drawing for an unpublished triptych showing cats queueing at a fish shop, probably for the first bonito of the year. Cats are shown serving the customers while other cats can be seen in the back of the shop. A young female cat is buying a fish, while beside her a young mother cat is standing carrying a baby cat on her back. It’s well known that Kuniyoshi loved cats and there is an illustration in Kyosai gwadan ( 1887 ) showing his studio with Kuniyoshi surrounded by cats.
Unsigned and sold “as is” with creases and stains.
Status: Sold
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Ichiyusai KUNIYOSHI (1797-1861)
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An extremely interesting original oban tate-e drawing, fully signed. A preparatory sketch for an unrecorded Nijushiko, “Twenty-four [ Chinese ] Paragons of Filial Piety” set. Shows Kakkio ( Kuo Chu ) and his wife unearthing a pot of gold. Like the other two published sets of Filial Piety by Kuniyoshi, there is a strong western influence in the depiction of the figures and landscape. See no.79, p.95 and nos.216-219, pages 195-197 in Heroes & Ghosts, Hotei publishing, 1998. Also no.107, p.134, Drawings by Utagawa Kuniyoshi, Leiden Museum, Matthi Forrer, 1988 for another original sketch for one of the horizontal Filial Piety designs. Sumi and light colour; 14 x 10.5 in., 36 x 27 cms.
Good condition: Lightly laid onto Japanese paper. Signed Ichiyusai Kuniyoshi ga.
Status: Sold
Katsushika HOKUSAI (1760-1849)
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An original drawing by Hokusai showing a Chinese brigand heaving aloft a large rock to stave off oncoming swords. Sumi on paper finely mounted as a kakemono; image size 14.50 x 10.75 ins. Box has inscription: “Chinese warrior from Suikoden painted by Katsushika Hokusai” and inside lid guarantee dated Showa kanoto tori, yayoi chuin Kimura Tosuke kan ( authenticated by Kimura Tosuke, 1981 ).
Status: Sold
Katsushika HOKUSAI (1760-1849)
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A large ( 33.75 x 15.75 ins. ) and important original drawing by Hokusai showing the Dragon of Handaka Sonja ( one of the sixteen Rakan ). This dragon is usually shown emanating from a bowl, sometimes with a rain cloud. For another see The Harari Collection of Japanese Paintings and Drawings, volume 2, Lund Humphries, 1970, 146e, p. 273. Sumi on paper finely mounted as a kakemono, with box. Provenance: Catalogued by Jack Hillier and illustrated in the 1967 catalogue of Kegan Paul, Trench, Trubner & Co., no 117. ( Interestingly, the item before which is illustrated on the facing page shows a large cartoon by Hokusai of the Sixteen Rakan with a dragon descending in the centre which is strikingly similar to this drawing. )
Status: Sold
Ichiryusai HIROSHIGE (1797-1858)
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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
Ichiyusai KUNIYOSHI (1797-1861)
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An original preparatory drawing by Kuniyoshi for an unpublished triptych showing the combat between Minazuru-hime, the daughter of Ki-ichi Hogen, and Kitashirakawa Tankai. The largest collection of such drawings is in the National Museum of Ethnology, Leiden from the Lieftinck collection. Sumi and pentimenti on thin tissue laid onto Japanese paper, c 1840’s. Signed Kuniyoshi and Kuniyoshi ga.
Status: Sold
Toyohara KUNICHIKA (1835-1900)
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A vigorous original preparatory drawing by Kunichika for an aiban shunga print. Sumi on thin tissue with extensive pentimenti ( giving an alternative position for the female ). Such shunga drawings are rare.
Status: Sold
TOSHIAKI
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An original preparatory drawing by Toshiaki ( presumably a pupil of Yoshitoshi ) showing the Suikoden hero Rochishin. Sumi and red underdrawing with pentimenti, 13.5 x 9.5 inches. Signed Toshiaki.
Status: Sold
Tsukioka YOSHITOSHI (1839-1892)
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An original preparatory drawing by Yoshitoshi showing a carp swimming amongst reeds. This may be an initial idea for the triptych showing carp swimming beneath wisteria ( see this website under Flora and Flora ). The only other koi print Yoshitoshi designed is a large surimono illustrated in Yoshitoshi, Toshihiko Isao, 1992, no. 98, p. 139. Sumi on thin tissue; size 13 x 9.25 inches.
Status: Sold
Tsukioka YOSHITOSHI (1839-1892)
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Another original preparatory drawing by Yoshitoshi showing a carp swimming amongst reeds. This may be an initial idea for the triptych showing carp swimming beneath wisteria ( see this website under Flora and Flora ). The only other koi print Yoshitoshi designed is a large surimono illustrated in Yoshitoshi, Toshihiko Isao, 1992, no. 98, p. 139. Sumi on thin tissue; size 13 x 9.25 inches.
Status: Sold
Tsukioka YOSHITOSHI (1839-1892)
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An original preparatory drawing by Yoshitoshi showing a battling tengu. Similar to the tengu figures on the triptych “Moon” from the set Snow, Moon and Flowers, published 2/1867. Sumi with pentimenti on thin tissue. Several small drawings au verso. Size 12 x 9 inches.
Status: Sold
Tsukioka YOSHITOSHI (1839-1892)
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An original preparatory drawing by Yoshitoshi showing a grimacing figure having obviously just used his sword to slice through something. Sumi and red underdrawing on paper with a number of attempts with pentimenti, also au verso, to achieve a satisfactory head. Size 12 x 9 inches.
Status: Sold
Tsukioka YOSHITOSHI (1839-1892)
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An original drawing by Yoshitoshi showing a ghoulish figure rising out of the sea and surprising a fisherman. Sumi on paper. Image size 12.25 x 7.5 inches.
Status: Sold
Tsukioka YOSHITOSHI (1839-1892)
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An original preparatory drawing by Yoshitoshi, probably showing Satsuma troops battling with an imperial soldier on a rearing horse. Sumi on paper. Another drawing au verso of an actor. Size 9.5 x 13 inches.
Status: Sold