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Meisho hakkei: Oyama yau, “Eight Celebrated Views: Night Rain at Oyama” in the oblong title cartouche and written below it: Juzan Fudo yori chojo no zu, “View of the Peak from Fudo.” Shows Mount Oyama in heavy rain with the Oyama-dera Temple dedicated to the Buddhist deity Fudo Myoo. Mount Fuji is seen in the distance. The “Eight Views” theme originates from 11th century China and the scenery of the Xiao and Xiang Rivers made famous by the scholar-painter Song Di. Here Toyokuni sets the views in Kanagawa. Published by Iseya Rihei (Kinjudo) c early 1830s. There are two editions of this set: one with regular block script in title cartouche, the other with cursive script (as here). Is in unclear which is the earliest. Cursive script is extremely difficult to read now but in 1830 it was no problem; certainly, with this design, the cursive script edition has superior gradation. However, comparison between editions on some other designs in the set show them to be almost identical, consequently it seems that the two states are almost contemporaneous and which is earlier is a moot point. One of the great 19th century landscapes.
Fine impression. Fine colour with the title cartouche still retaining some purple which is famous for fading to a puce colour. Slight centre fold, otherwise very good condition. Signed Toyokuni hitsu.
Status: Available
Price: £18,000
Tags: Available, Landscapes, TOYOSHIGE, Utagawa TOYOKUNI II
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Meisho hakkei: Kamakura bansho, “Eight Celebrated Views: Evening Bell at Kamakura” in the oblong title cartouche and written below it: Tsurugaoka yori Boshu yama no kei, “View of the Mountains of Awa Province from Tsurugaoka.” Shows the Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine. The “Eight Views” theme originates from 11th century China and the scenery of the Xiao and Xiang Rivers made famous by the scholar-painter Song Di. Here Toyokuni sets the views in Kanagawa. Published by Iseya Rihei (Kinjudo) c early 1830s. There are two editions of this set: one with regular block script in title cartouche, the other with cursive script (as here). Is in unclear which is the earliest. Cursive script is extremely difficult to read now but in 1830 it was no problem. Comparison between editions on some other designs in the set show them to be almost identical, consequently it seems that the two states are almost contemporaneous and which is earlier is a moot point.
Fine impression and colour with colour in title cartouche perfectly retained. Fine condition. Signed Toyokuni hitsu.
Status: Available
Price: £3,800
Tags: Available, Landscapes, TOYOSHIGE, Utagawa TOYOKUNI II
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Meisho hakkei: Enoshima seiran “Eight Celebrated Views: Clearing Weather at Enoshima” in the oblong title cartouche and written below it: Koyurugi no iso Morokoshi ga hara “Koyurugi Strand and Morokoshi Plain.” Shows a view of the famous island from Shichiri Beach and Mount Fuji in the distance. The “Eight Views” theme originates from 11th century China and the scenery of the Xiao and Xiang Rivers made famous by the scholar-painter Song Di. Here Toyokuni sets the views in Kanagawa. Published by Iseya Rihei (Kinjudo) c early 1830s. There are two editions of this set: one with regular block script in title cartouche (as here), the other with cursive script. It is unclear which is the earliest. Cursive script is extremely difficult to read now but in 1830 it was no problem. Comparison between editions on some other designs in the set show them to be almost identical, consequently it seems that the two states are almost contemporaneous and which is earlier is a moot point.
Fine impression and colour with colour in title cartouche well retained. Fine condition. Signed Toyokuni hitsu.
Status: Available
Price: £4,200
Tags: Available, Landscapes, TOYOSHIGE, Utagawa TOYOKUNI II
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Meisho hakkei: Fuji bosetsu, “Eight Celebrated Views: Evening Snow on Mount Fuji” in the oblong title cartouche and written below it: Shimo Sengen atomiya nakamiya zenzu, “Complete View of the Inner and Middle Shrines at Shimo Sengen.” A majestic Fuji towers over the shrines. The “Eight Views” theme originates from 11th century China and the scenery of the Xiao and Xiang Rivers made famous by the scholar-painter Song Di. Here Toyokuni sets the views in Kanagawa. Published by Iseya Rihei (Kinjudo) c early 1830s. There are two editions of this set: one with regular block script in title cartouche, the other with cursive script (as here). It is unclear which is the earliest. Cursive script is extremely difficult to read now but in 1830 it was no problem. Comparison between editions on some other designs in the set show them to be almost identical, consequently it seems that the two states are almost contemporaneous and which is earlier is a moot point.
Fine impression and colour with colour in title cartouche well retained. Fine condition. Signed Toyokuni hitsu.
Status: Available
Price: £6,800
Tags: Available, Landscapes, TOYOSHIGE, Utagawa TOYOKUNI II
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Meisho hakkei: Miho rakugan “Eight Celebrated Views: Returning Geese at Miho” in the oblong title cartouche and written below it: Suruga Kiyomidera Yoshiwara enkei, “Distant View of Yoshiwara Station and Kiyomi Temple in Suruga Province.” A blind-printed Mount Fuji is seen on the horizon. The “Eight Views” theme originates from 11th century China and the scenery of the Xiao and Xiang Rivers made famous by the scholar-painter Song Di. Here Toyokuni sets the views in Kanagawa. Published by Iseya Rihei (Kinjudo) c early 1830s. There are two editions of this set: one with regular block script in title cartouche, the other with cursive script (as here). It is unclear which is the earliest. Cursive script is extremely difficult to read now but in 1830 it was no problem. Comparison between editions on some other designs in the set show them to be almost identical, consequently it seems that the two states are almost contemporaneous and which is earlier is a moot point.
Fine impression and colour with colour in title cartouche well retained. Fine condition. Signed Toyokuni hitsu.
Status: Available
Price: £5,500
Tags: Available, Landscapes, TOYOSHIGE, Utagawa TOYOKUNI II
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Returning Geese at Miho: Kiyomizu Temple of Suruga Province with a Distant View of Yoshiwara from Meisho hakkei, “Eight Views of Famous Places.” A popular theme in Japanese art originating in China and the landscape of the Xiaoxiang region where the Xiao and Xiang rivers converge. Published c 1833-4 by Kinjudo.
Fine impression, colour and condition. The pigment in the title cartouche intact, which is usually faded. Signed Toyokuni hitsu.
Status: Sold
Tags: Landscapes, Sold, TOYOSHIGE, Utagawa TOYOKUNI II
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A vertical diptych of Shoki, the Demon Queller. The character originates from China being a deity from China’s Taoist pantheon. He is always shown with his scholar’s hat, large robe and boots, and usually carrying a sword with which he attacks oni. Images of Shoki were hung outside houses to ward off evil during the Boys’ Day Festival on May 5th. Published by Yamamoto Kyubei, c 1820. Prints by Toyoshige are often misattributed to Toyokuni I and vice versa because late Toyokuni I signatures and those of Toyoshige are similar. Rare.
Very good impression and colour. Some edge soil, otherwise very good condition. Signed Gosotei Toyokuni hitsu.
Status: Sold
Tags: Sold, TOYOSHIGE, Utagawa TOYOKUNI II, Warriors and Legends
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Evening Glow ( Sunset ) at Atami, Shizuoka Prefecture. From a set Meisho hakkei, “Eight Views of Famous Places” ( based on the Eight Views of Omi theme ). Published 1830s by Iseri. The town is famous for the Onsen hot springs and the area is known for its past volcanic activity. Across Sagami Bay can be seen smoke coming from the volcanic island of Oshima ( the epicentre of the great Kanto earthquake of 1923 ).
Fine impression and colour.There are two states of this set: one with square and one with cursive script ( as here ) in the oblong cartouche at top. It is unclear which is the earliest. This purple cartouche is often faded out to a puce colour. Slight centre fold otherwise very good condition. Signed Toyokuni hitsu.
Status: Sold
Tags: Landscapes, Sold, TOYOSHIGE, Utagawa TOYOKUNI II
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Clearing weather over the Enoshima Island from a Meisho hakkei, “Eight Views of Famous Places” ( based on the Eight Views of Omi theme ) set published 1830s by Iseri. A view of the island from Shichiri Beach in Sagami Province. The island was dedicated to Benten ( one of the seven gods of good luck ).
Fine impression. There are two states of this set: one with square and one with cursive script ( as here ) in the oblong cartouche at top. It is unclear which is the earliest. Fine impression. Small expert restoration to two upper corners, otherwise fine colour and condition. Signed Toyokuni hitsu.
Status: Sold
Tags: Landscapes, Sold, TOYOSHIGE, Utagawa TOYOKUNI II
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A courtesan with a toothpick and playing with a cat compared to the actor Iwai Hanshiro V ( inset in a sake cup top right ). From a series Imayo bijin awase, shinsei sugatami sakazuki, “A Comparison of Modern Beauties – A New Mirror of Sake Cups.” Published by Imariya Ushizo, c 1820-24.
Very good impression, colour and condition. Extensive mica added to the coat of the courtesan. Signed Toyokuni ga.
Status: Sold
Tags: Beauties, Sold, TOYOSHIGE, Utagawa TOYOKUNI II
