Katsushika HOKUSAI (1760-1849)
Click here to view image full size. An original sumi drawing of a seated bijin writing on a handscroll. From a series of such studies showing women in various attitudes, smoking; playing musical instruments; adjusting hair, etc. The design cut out and mounted onto a larger sheet of Japanese paper, 10.5 x 8 inches. Status: […]
Katsushika HOKUSAI (1760-1849)
Click here to view image full size. A small original drawing, 3.25 x 4.25 in; 0.825 x 1.05 cms. Sumi on paper laid onto card showing a vendor or waiter offering food. Very much in the style of the “Day” and “Night” series of drawings in the MFA, Boston, c 1815. Provenance: Ex collection Catherine […]
Katsushika HOKUSAI (1760-1849)
Click here to view image full size. An important large brush drawing in red ink showing a full length figure wielding a stave at a cowering adversary. The standing figure has no sword or armour but is obviously a chivalrous man of great probity. The leaning attitude of the upright figure is typical of Hokusai […]
Katsushika HOKUSAI (1760-1849)
Click here to view image full size. A sheet of original studies, sumi on thin paper, 10.5 x 15 in; 26.6 x 38 cms. Of particular interest and importance is the self-portrait in the upper right, This is another version of the famous self-portrait at the age of 83 (1842) sent to his publisher. Illustrated […]
Katsushika HOKUSAI (1760-1849)
Click here to view image full size. A sheet of original sumi drawings laid onto Japanese paper, 14 x 8 in; 35.5 x 20.1 cms.: Four being preliminary designs for the book: Ehon teikin orai, “Communication of Home Precepts” published in three volumes by Eijudo in 1828 (second and third vols n.d.). Together with a […]
Katsushika HOKUSAI (1760-1849)
Click here to view image full size. A sheet of original sumi drawings laid onto Japanese paper, 13 x 8 in; 33 x 20.1 cms.: Four being preliminary designs for the book: Ehon teikin orai, “Communication of Home Precepts” published in three volumes by Eijudo in 1828 (second and third vols n.d.). Together with a […]
Katsushika HOKUSAI (1760-1849)
Click here to view image full size. An original sumi drawing on thin paper, 9 x 13.25 in; 22.9 x 33.6 cms, showing a reclining warrior, his sword resting on his shoulder. Provenance: Ex Hayashi collection, seal bottom left corner. Exhibited and sold at an exhibition: Hokusai, Prints, Paintings, Drawings and Illustrated Books held at […]
Katsushika HOKUSAI (1760-1849)
Click here to view image full size. old lady in a bath house and two of a seated and standing beauty. (These last two studies were copied many times by Hokusai’s pupils.) Provenance: Ex Hayashi collection, seal bottom right. Good condition. Status: Sold
Katsushika HOKUSAI (1760-1849)
Click here to view image full size. An original drawing, sumi on thin paper, 14.5 x 10.5 in; 37 x 27 cms, laid onto Japanese card. Shows a standing warrior with his sword drawn: A common subject in Hokusai’s oeuvre. In very good condition. Status: Sold
Katsushika HOKUSAI (1760-1849)
Click here to view image full size. An important original painting showing a taro plant and balloon flowers. This statuesque plant is known as the village potato in Japan ( satoimo ) for its edible corms and “elephant ears” when grown ornamentally. Above is a poem by Ota Shokusanjin ( Ota Nampo ), a famous […]
Katsushika HOKUSAI (1760-1849)
Click here to view image full size. One of the most majestic landscape sets: Shokoku takimeguri, “Travelling Around the Waterfall Country.” A series of eight waterfalls, this being the Kiyo fall: Tokaido Sakanoshita, Kiyotaki Kannon, “The Kiyo Waterfall, Kannon Shrine at Sakanoshita on the Tokaido.” This fall descends in rivulets rather than a torrent. Shows […]
Katsushika HOKUSAI (1760-1849)
Click here to view image full size. The Aoigaoka [waterfall] in Edo: Toto Aoigaoka no taki from a set of eight prints with title, Shokoku taki meguri, “A Journey to the Waterfalls of All the Provinces.” A majestic set with a mostly beautiful unifying colour scheme: There is probably no other Hokusai set that has […]
Katsushika HOKUSAI (1760-1849)
Click here to view image full size. A surimono showing a bamboo-ware maker. One of the characters from Taketori monogatari, “Tale of the Shining Princess.” He is shown sawing through a large bamboo stem surrounded by his tools. Behind him an uguisu ( bush warbler, signifying the arrival of spring ) sits on a bamboo […]
Katsushika HOKUSAI (1760-1849)
Click here to view image full size. A wonderfully delicate study using light washes showing a Japanese carrot, mushrooms, a Japanese cucumber ( which have knobbles or spikes as opposed to our smooth-skinned varieties ), aubergines and long beans ( possibly yardlong beans ). Obviously from a large album of such studies ( it has […]
Katsushika HOKUSAI (1760-1849)
Click here to view image full size. A poem by the Lady of Ise which speaks of a love that has not been reciprocated. From Hyakunin isshu uba ga etoki, the “Hundred Poems Explained by the Wet Nurse.” Published by Eijudo and Iseri, c.1835-6. Although obviously intended to be a set of 100 prints, only […]
Katsushika HOKUSAI (1760-1849)
Click here to view image full size. A newly discovered Hokusai painting showing falling maple leaves, pine needles and a rustic broom. Pine needles and a broom would suggest the Pine Trees of Takasago. Uba’s broom sweeping away evil – bringing good luck. But the painting suggests a Zen theme, the previous mount being in […]
Katsushika HOKUSAI (1760-1849)
Click here to view image full size. A poem by Sanji Takamura from Hyakunin isshu uba ga etoki, the “Hundred Poems Explained by the Wet Nurse.” Published by Eijudo and Iseri, c.1835-6. Although obviously intended to be a set of 100 prints, only 27 are known plus drawings for others. The poem is a farewell […]
Katsushika HOKUSAI (1760-1849)
Click here to view image full size. A poem by Bunya no Asayasu from Hyakunin isshu uba ga etoki, the “Hundred Poems Explained by the Wet Nurse.” Published by Eijudo and Iseri, c.1835-6. Although obviously intended to be a set of 100 prints, only 27 are known plus drawings for others. The poem likens dewdrops […]
Katsushika HOKUSAI (1760-1849)
Click here to view image full size. A poem by Motoyoshi Shinno from Hyakunin isshu uba ga etoki, the “Hundred Poems Explained by the Wet Nurse.” Published by Eijudo and Iseri, c.1835-6. Although obviously intended to be a set of 100 prints, only 27 are known plus drawings for others. The poem concerns the intention […]
Katsushika HOKUSAI (1760-1849)
Click here to view image full size. Toto Asakusa Honganji, “Fuji from the Roof of the Hongan Temple, Asakusa, in the Eastern Capital” from Hokusai’s most celebrated set: Fugaku sanjurokkei, the “Thirty-Six Views of Mount Fuji.” The set of 46 prints published by Eijudo, c 1830-32. This appears to be a New Year view judging […]
Katsushika HOKUSAI (1760-1849)
Click here to view image full size. Sei Shonagon ( lady of honour to the empress at the court of Ichijo-tenno [ 10th century ]. Rival of Murasaki Shikibu ) from a rare set of ten nagaban prints with title: Shiika shashin-kyo, “A Mirror of Chinese/Japanese Verse.” The set published 1833-4 by Moriya Jihei. The […]
Katsushika HOKUSAI (1760-1849)
Click here to view image full size. Three volumes complete: Ehon kyoka yama-mata-yama, “Kyoka: Range Upon Range of Mountains.” The fanciful title is based on the fact that the views illustrated are located around Yama-no-te, the higher ground situated in the north and north-western part of Edo. The pictures accompanied by kyoka poems. Vol.1: 12 […]
Katsushika HOKUSAI (1760-1849)
Click here to view image full size. Kaiba, Sea Horses, from a series of at least thirty surimono issued for the Yomo-gawa poetry group. Uma zukushi, “Horse Series” was commissioned for the Horse Year 1822 and each design alludes to the word horse. Here the dried sea horses are shown lying in a gold-lacquer folder […]
Katsushika HOKUSAI (1760-1849)
Click here to view image full size. A view of two temples separated by water: Mimeguri and Ushi-no Misaka. From an early set of thirteen prints with title Shimpan uki-e, “New Perspective Prints,” published by Iseya Rihei, 1811. ( Although various dates are given between 1804 and 1810 for the series, in fact at least […]
Katsushika HOKUSAI (1760-1849)
Click here to view image full size. A fine long surimono with poems attached showing horsetails, fern fronds and kuzu ( arrowroot ) lying in and around a lady’s travelling hat with silk cushion and the two red cords for tying. Of the utmost rarity: other impressions in TNMC, no. 3708 ( without poems ? […]
Katsushika HOKUSAI (1760-1849)
Click here to view image full size. One of the most majestic landscape sets: Shokoku takimeguri, “Travelling Around the Waterfall Country.” A series of eight waterfalls, this being the Kirifuri, “Falling Mist” fall that cascades down Kurokami mountain in Shimotsuke Province. Shimotsuke Kurokamiyama Kirifuri no taki. Pilgrims from Nikko admire the fall, one with Eijudo’s […]
Katsushika HOKUSAI (1760-1849)
Click here to view image full size. Yodo-gawa from Setsugekka, Snow, Moon and Flowers. A traditional concept that provided the subject for sets of paintings and prints by Ukiyo-e artists. Shows boats being hauled up the river, which flowed passed Osaka, under a full moon. Under the Tokugawa boats were allowed to sail the river […]
Katsushika HOKUSAI (1760-1849)
Click here to view image full size. Onden no suisha, “Waterwheel at Onden” from Hokusai’s most famous series: Fugaku sanju-rokkei, the “Thirty-Six Views of Mount Fuji.” The set of 46 prints published by Eijudo, c.1830-32. The Onden area is now traversed by a broad avenue running up to the Meiji Shrine in Tokyo. In Hokusai’s […]
Katsushika HOKUSAI (1760-1849)
Click here to view image full size. Ommayagashi yori Ryogoku-bashi no sekiyo wo miru, “Viewing Sunset over Ryogoku Bridge from the Ommaya Embankment [ Edo ].” From Hokusai’s most famous series: Fugaku sanju-rokkei, the “Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji.” The set of 46 prints published by Eijudo, c. 1830 – 32. This was one of […]
Katsushika HOKUSAI (1760-1849)
Click here to view image full size. Totomi sanchu, “In the Mountains of Totomi Province.” The location was in what is now the western part of Shizuoka Prefecture and shows a poor logging family, two of whom are sawing planks from a huge log supported by wood trestles. To the left another man is sharpening […]
Katsushika HOKUSAI (1760-1849)
Click here to view image full size. Umezawa Marsh, Sagami Province. The location appears to be present-day Ninomiya, a city near the coast of Kanagawa Prefecture between Kozu and Odawara. Shows a group of cranes in the foreground with two others flying off towards Fuji. From Hokusai’s most famous series: Fugaku sanju-rokkei, the “Thirty-six Views […]
Katsushika HOKUSAI (1760-1849)
Click here to view image full size. The poet Li Po ( Japanese: Ri Haku ) admiring the Lo-shan Waterfall. The finest design from the rare nagaban series of ten prints: Shika shashinyo, the “Poets of China and Japan.” ( But without interpreting specific poems. ) Published by Moriya Jihei, c 1833. Li Po is […]
Katsushika HOKUSAI (1760-1849)
Click here to view image full size. The village of Ryudo in snow. Ryudo shoto, “Pines and Waves at Ryudo” from Ryukyo hakkei, the “Eight Views of the Ryukyo Islands” published c1831-32 by Eijudo. An archipelago of 55 islands which was annexed to Japan in 1879. Very good impression and colour. Small repaired binding holes […]
Katsushika HOKUSAI (1760-1849)
Click here to view image full size. Fuji seen from the second floor of the Mitsui clothing store just north of Nihonbashi ( which became the Mitsubishi department store of modern times ). This was considered a fine spot to view a snow-capped Fuji on New Year’s Day, and Hokusai suggests this with the kites […]
Katsushika HOKUSAI (1760-1849)
Click here to view image full size. Fuji from the Tea Plantation of Katakura in Suruga Province from Hokusai’s most famous series: Fugaku Sanji-rokkei, the ‘Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji’. The set of 46 prints published by Eijudo c 1830-32. This design comes from the ten supplementary prints added, the so-called ura-Fuji ( ‘Fuji from […]
Katsushika HOKUSAI (1760-1849)
Click here to view image full size. Poem by Fujiwara no Michinobu Ason ( 972-994 ) from the set Hyakunin isshu oba ga etoki, ‘The Hundred Poems Explained by the Wet Nurse’. Published by Nishimuraya Yohachi ( the first five ) and Ise Sanjiro ( as here ) the next twenty two, c late 1830s. […]
Katsushika HOKUSAI (1760-1849)
Click here to view image full size. Joshu Ushibori from Fugaku sanju-rokkei, the “Thirty-Six views of Mount Fuji”. The set published by Eijudo c1829-33. Probably the most difficult design from the set to find in early impression. (There exist first printings entirely in blue, but they are extremely rare.) Very good early impression (blue outline) […]
Katsushika HOKUSAI (1760-1849)
Click here to view image full size. Plovers and waves from a very rare set of ten half block aizuri prints published by Moriya Jihei, c. 1831. This design – and a few others from the set – never seem to come onto the market. There appear to be at least four other impressions known: […]
Katsushika HOKUSAI (1760-1849)
Click here to view image full size. Hisui and nadeshiko, kingfisher with pinks and iris from a set of ten chuban prints published c 1832. The first edition ( as here ) was published by and has the seal Eijudo. A later edition is known with combined manji and kiwame seal from different blocks ( […]
Katsushika HOKUSAI (1760-1849)
Click here to view image full size. Sekirei and fuji, wagtail and wisteria from a set of ten chuban prints published c 1832. The first edition ( as here ) was published by and has the seal Eijudo. A later edition is known with combined manji and kiwame seal from different blocks ( some also […]