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Utagawa KUNIYOSHI (1798-1861)
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Cao Cao (Jap. Shuso) and Pang De (Jap. Hotoku) in the Han river during the battle with Guan Yu. From a set of Chinese warrior prints: Tsuzoku sangokushi eiyu no ichinin, “Heroes of the Popular History of the Three Kingdoms.” Published by Joshuya Kinzo, c. 1836. Robinson S10.8 (although only known as a key-block proof). Rare.
Superb impression. Very fine colour and condition. As the day it was printed. Signed Chooro Kuniyoshi ga.
Status: Available
Price: £3,800
Kikugawa EIZAN (1787-1867)
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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
Price: £8,000
Matsumura KEIBUN (1779-1843)
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An original painting, sumi and very light colour on paper, 52.5 x 20 in; 133.5 x 51 cms. Keibun studied with his older half-brother Matsumura Goshun as well as Maruyama Okyo. At his best, the equal of Goshun. Noted for his kachoga, as here, showing a bird on a flowering branch and a gourd vine.
In good condition. Signed and sealed Keibun.
Status: Available
Price: £2,200
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Toyohara KUNICHIKA (1835-1900)
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The actor Otani Tomoemon V as Danshichi Kurobei, a fishmonger and an Osaka otokodate, in the drama Natsu matsuri Naniwa kagami, “Summer Festival: Mirror of Osaka.” From an untitled set of large-head actor portraits published by Gusokuya Kahei, 1869. Based on actual events, the scene depicted here is from Act VII of the play where the heavily tattooed Danshichi has murdered his wife’s father, the untrustworthy Mikawaya Giheiji, and is pouring water from a bucket over himself to wash off the mud from the murder scene. Probably the best design from the set.
Fine impression and colour. Very good condition. Signed Kunichika hitsu.
Status: Available
Price: £2,200
Keisai EISEN (1790-1848)
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Kegon no taki, santaki no sono ikkei, “ The Kegon Waterfall, View of One of the Three Falls.” From a set Nikkosan meisho no uchi, “Celebrated Views in the Nikko Mountains.” Three travellers rather precariously perched on a ledge looking down at the fall. From a set of five prints: It was probably intended to be a set of three prints but another two were added, possibly with the intention of going on to emulate Hokusai’s waterfall set. Published by Yamamotoya Heikichi (Eikyudo) c. 1843-47. In contrast to Hokusai’s set, Eisen’s have a more muscular appearance. See: The Japanese Print: A New Approach, J. Hillier, Bell & Son, 1960, Chapter XVI, where Jack Hillier discusses Eisen and his landscapes and considers this set “… is perhaps the crowning achievement of his career as a designer of landscape prints.”
Fine impression. (Late impressions are not known of this set, probably due to not having the popularity of Hokusai’s set.) Fine impression. Very good colour. Slight edge soil, otherwise very good condition. Signed Keisai Eisen utsusu.
Status: Available
Price: £7,200
Utagawa YOSHIIKU (1833-1904)
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A fascinating triptych showing the backstage activities on the second floor of a kabuki theatre, Gakuya ni-kai no zu. Twenty-one actors are shown, mostly in their street clothes, together with assistants. However, on the right sheet can be seen an actor in full Shibaraku costume while the centre sheet has Ichikawa Ichizo III descending the stairs. Below is the actor Bando Mitsugoro VI in an onnagata role. On the left sheet can be seen another actor in an onnagata role applying his makeup. This is the bottom half of a hexaptych. Published by Izutsuya Shokichi, c 1861. This design is loosely based on the bottom half of a hexaptych designed by Kunisada in 1856. Rare.
Very good impression and colour. Minor defects, otherwise very good condition. Signed Yoshiiku ga.
Status: Available
Price: £1,800
Utagawa HIROSHIGE (1797-1858)
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Ushiwakamaru (Yoshitsune) defeats the priest Tankai of Shirakawa at the Gojo Shrine under a full moon. Hachikai, Gojo no Yashiro ni Ushiwakamaru Shirakawa no Tankai o uchitori from the set Yoshitsune ichidaiki no uchi, “The Life of Yoshitsune.” Published by Tsuruya Kiemon (Senkakudo) 1832-34.
Fine impression and colour. Very good condition. Signed Hiroshige ga.
Status: Available
Price: £950
Kawanabe KYOSAI (1831-1889)
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A fine original Kyosai painting, full colour on paper, 51.5 x 21.5 in; 131 x 54.5 cms. Shows Otafuku being carried across a river on the back of a blue oni. They look down with consternation at a red oni who has fallen into the water spilling his basket of mushrooms. The face of the blue oni takes on the appearance of Hyottoko, the male pairing of Otafuku. Known as the Goddess of Mirth, Otafuku is often shown with the Seven Gods of Good Fortune. There are various theories as to her origins and her face, in the form of a mask, has become ubiquitous. Kyosai was a draughtsman of great dexterity with a wild, often bizarre, 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 finished paintings but also produced a large corpus of spontaneous paintings.
In very good condition. Provenance: The inside of the lid on the box is signed and sealed by Mano Gyotei (Kyotei) who was Kyosai’s pupil and guarantees the painting. Sealed Kyosai.
Status: Available
Price: £8,500
Kitagawa UTAMARO (1753-1806)
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A beauty with a child on her back. Amagoi Komachi from a set Furyu nana Komachi, “Fashionable Seven Komachi.” Events from the life of Ono no Komachi, one of the six best waka poets of the Heian period. Published by Iseya Soemon, c. 1805.
Very good impression. Fine colour. Slight trimming, otherwise very good condition. Signed Utamaro hitsu.
Status: Available
Price: £3,200