Torii KIYOMITSU (1735-1785)
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An hosoban showing two female travellers and their man-servant crossing a river beside a waterwheel, a giant sun on the horizon, the ancient symbol of Japan. Very few prints show waterwheels, the best known being Hokusa’s waterwheel at Onden from the 36 Views of Fuji set. They were in use until the 1880s and, apart from being used for irrigation, they were also employed to run grain mills to polish rice for making sake and threshing machines. Published by Yamashiro han c. 1759. Benizuri-e, with beni, green and blue (turned). Apparently unrecorded.
Fine impression. Very good colour and condition. Signed Torii Kiyomitsu hitsu.
Status: Sold
Torii KIYOMITSU (1735-1785)
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An hosoban showing two adversaries, the lower figure fighting off his opponent while seated on a fish trap in a stream. The upper figure is the actor Nakamura Sukegoro I as Kenkaya Goroemon and the lower is the actor Nakamura Utayemon I as Nonhyoko Kyubei. Published by Matsumura Yahei, c early 1760s.
Good impression. Some slight browning and fading commensurate with the age of the print. Signed Torii Kiyomitsu ga.
Status: Sold
Torii KIYOMITSU (1735-1785)
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An 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 the Heike clan. However, if Kikunojo were playing Kagekiyo’s daughter then it would be written Kagekiyo musume. (His daughter was named Hitomaru and she does indeed feature in many plays about him.) But in this case, it perhaps refers to a female version of Kagekiyo’s daughter after all and it’s just written the other way round for some reason, then it would identify the performance and date nicely: the play would be Soga yawaragi Soga performed at the Ichimura-za Theatre in the 1st month of 1767. Published by Nishimura, Eijudo han. Extremely rare. (Many thanks to Paul Griffith for the elucidation above.)
Fine impression and colour. Slight vertical fold and small expertly restored wormhole near bottom edge. Signed Torii Kiyomitsu ga.
Status: Sold
Torii KIYOMITSU (1735-1785)
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An hosoban showing the actor Ichimura Uzaemon IX in the role of Hanako performing the famous dance in Musume Dojoji, “The Maiden at Dojoji Temple.” Hanako is allowed to dance before the new bell at the temple only to reveal herself as the spirit of Kiyohime who killed the priest Anchin hidden beneath the first bell. Published by Nishimuraya Yohachi c 1765.
Fine impression. Very good colour and condition. Signed Torii Kiyomitsu ga.
Status: Sold
Torii KIYOMITSU (1735-1785)
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An hosoban benizuri-e showing the actor Bando Hikosaburo II as Sanada no Yoichi Yoshitada in the play Ume ya suisen izu no irifune performed at the Morita Theatre, 11/1763. Yoshitada served the Minamoto Clan and is usually shown fighting his adversary Matano Goro Kagehisa. Published by Harimaya Shinshichi. Interestingly, the impression in the MFA, Boston, 06.404, has the publisher’s seal Nishinomiya Shinroku. Possibly a slightly later reprint. Kiyomitsu was the second son of Kiyomasu II.
Very good impression and colour. Light album backing, otherwise very good condition. Signed Torii Kiyomitsu ga.
Status: Sold
Torii KIYOMITSU (1735-1785)
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An hosoban benizuri-e showing the actor Ichimura Uzaemon IX as Soga no Goro Tokimune, brandishing a club, and riding to avenge the murder of his father by Kudo Suketsune. Published c. 1768. (The publisher’s seal may be on the underside of the horse.) Kiyomitsu was the second son of Kiyomasu II.
Very good impression and colour. Light album backing, otherwise very good condition. Signed Torii Kiyomitsu ga.
Status: Sold
Torii KIYOMITSU (1735-1785)
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Shows the standing figure of the kabuki actor Ichimura Kamezo I as Wankyu in the play Furiwakamura suehiro Genji which according to the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, which has another impression (no.21.8149), was staged at the Ichimura theatre, 11th month, 1760. But I have been unable to verify this. Certainly the date fits as Kamezo became Ichimura Uzayemon IX in 1762. Benizuri-e and a pale blue-grey. Published by Igaya Kan’emon.
Very good impression and colour. Very slight surface soil, otherwise very good condition. Signed Torii Kiyomitsu ga.
Status: Sold
Torii KIYOMITSU (1735-1785)
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The actor Segawa Kikunojo II as the Tennin (a devine being that is able to fly by means of a feathered kimono) from the play Hagoromo, “The Feathered Mantle.” She stands on Miho Beach, the feathered kimono caught in the tree behind her. The story relates how fishermen find the boa but will only return it if she performs a dance. Published c early 1760s.
Fine impression. Very good colour: Benizuri-e with beni, green and blue. Some light toning and soil, otherwise very good condition. Signed Kiyomitsu ga with kiyomitsu seal.
Status: Sold
Torii KIYOMITSU (1735-1785)
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A large oban panel, 11.75 x 16.5 in; 29.75 x 42 cms showing three beauties playing, from the left, a shamisen, a koto, and a kokyu in an interior with hand-painted screens. A beautiful and important print. Kiyomitsu was the son and pupil of Kiyonobu II, the third of the Torii line and a prominent print designer. He pioneered the polychrome print which was brought to full fruition by Harunobu. Benizuri-e with beni, blue, yellow and green by superimposing blocks. Published by Kichi Uemura (Kichiemon of Emi-ya) c. 1764. There was a convention of printing three hosoban designs to a sheet from the 1720s to 1760s with a linking theme, in this case even though the image is signed three times it is as one. Exceptionally rare: The only other impression appears to be that in the Ritsumeikan University, Japan, Z 0165-424. An unread collector’s seal bottom right.
Fine impression and colour. Minor expertly restored areas, but in fine condition for a print of this size and date. Signed three times Torii Kiyomitsu ga.
Status: Sold
Torii KIYOMITSU (1735-1780)
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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 the Heike clan. However, if Kikunojo were playing Kagekiyo’s daughter then it would be written Kagekiyo musume. ( His daughter was named Hitomaru and she does indeed feature in many plays about him. ) But in this case, it perhaps refers to a female version of Kagekiyo although no information on this is to hand. However, if Kikunojo is playing Kagekiyo’s daughter after all, and it’s just written the other way round for some reason, then it would identify the performance and date nicely: the play would be Soga yawaragi Soga performed at the Ichimura-za in the 1st month of 1767. Published by Nishimura, Eijudo han. Extremely rare. ( Many thanks to Paul Griffith for the elucidation above. )
Fine impression and colour. Slight vertical fold and small expertly restored wormhole near bottom edge. Signed Torii Kiyomitsu ga.
Status: Sold
Torii KIYOMITSU (1735-1785)
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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. This print has all the hallmarks of a “proof” impression with best quality hosho and extra paper left and top. Printed in beni, yellow ochre, orange ( yellow over beni ), puce, light blue-grey and a grey ground. Published c 1768.
Perfect preservation as the day it was printed. Superb impression, colour and condition. Immaculate keying of the blocks. Signed Torii Kiyomitsu ga.
Status: Sold