Hosoda EISHI (1756-1829)
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Two beauties examining tanzaku poetry cards from a set Ukiyo Genji hakkei, “Eight Views of Genji in the Floating World.” The designs stand alone but also form diptychs. This series compares scenes from the famous Tale of Genji novel written by the Lady Murasaki in the early 11th century with the Eight Views of Omi [Lake Biwa]. In the present case, Maboroshi rakugan (viz Katata rakugan, “Descending Geese at Katata”) is compared to chapter 41, Spirit Summoner, of the Tale of Genji where a poem composed by the Akashi Lady is in response to the grieving Genji’s poem after the nocturnal encounter with Murasaki which refers to the wild goose (aka Genji) having flown away. Published by Eijudo c 1797-99. Another impression is in the B.M., reg. no. 1931, 0427,0.8 and an impression is illustrated in Klaus J. Brandt, Hosoda Eishi, 1977, 119, no. 301. Provenance: Sold Sothebys, New York, 28/10/1980, lot 866.
Fine impression. Very good colour with yellow ground. Slight centre fold and very slight trimming, otherwise very good condition. Signed Eishi zu.
Status: Available
Hosoda EISHI (1736-1829)
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An original painting, sumi and colour on silk, 33.25 x 12 in; 84.5 x 30.5 cms. Shows a parading oiran, a high class courtesan, beneath falling cherry blossom. A parade was held every April in the Yoshiwara under the spring cherry blossom. Her costume is decorated with a large golden koi swimming amongst water weeds. An elegant and refined painting of great delicacy typical of this painter who was of unusually high rank for an Ukiyo-e artist. His prints – usually of beauties – are equally elegant. He also had a considerable number of pupils, including Eisho, Eiri and Eisui who produced some exceptional compositions. Probably painted around 1795-1804.
Mount with some minor damage; painted area in very good condition. Signed Chobunsai Eishi hitsu with Eishi seal.
Status: Available
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Hosoda EISHI (1756-1829)
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An original painting, full colour on silk, 32.5 x 10 in; 82.5 x 25.5 cms. Shows a promenading courtesan under a full moon – presumably on the way to an assignation. She wears a vivid red over-garment decorated with iris and the under-garment has heavy mica applied. Eishi was of unusually high rank for an Ukiyo-e artist and is noted for his refined beauties – both painted and in woodblock form. They often have ink-wash backgrounds in the Edo-Kano technique learned as a pupil of Kano Eisen’in Michinobu (1730-90). His corpus is extensive and there are also many copies of his work. He had around thirty pupils including Eisho, Eiri and Eisui. Minor flaking of mica but in otherwise good condition. Signed Chobunsai Eishi hitsu with Eishi seal.
Status: Sold
Hosoda EISHI (1756-1829)
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A fine original painting by one of the best known Ukiyo-e artists. This high ranking individual produced some of the most refined prints during the late 1780s and the 1790s. He had many pupils including Eisho, Eiri and Eisui. Shows a standing beauty painted c. late 1790s. One hand adjusts a hairpin, while the other holds a partly concealed letter. Image size 35.25 x 13 in; 89.5 x 33 cms. Exquisitely painted in full colour on silk. In very good condition with futo-maki ( thick wooden roll to preserve the painting from damage ) and fine new mount and box. Signed Chobunsai Eishi hitsu with Eishi seal.
Status: Sold
Hosoda EISHI (1756–1829) and Katsushika HOKUSAI (1760–1849)
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One volume complete Nishikizuri onna sanjurokkasen, “The Thirty-Six Women Poets in Brocade Prints” published by Eijudo Nishimuraya Yohachi and dated on last postscript Kansei 9 hinoto mi “Kansei 9 [ 1797 ] mid-Winter” and stating that the calligraphy was written by thirty-six young girls, none over the age of fifteen. Date of publication Spring 1801 ( Kansei 13 kanoto tori haru ). Two prefaces followed by a double-page frontispiece by Hokusai and thirty-six double-page prints with a poetess at left and a poem in shikishi at right decorated with colour patterns. Two postfaces with colophon giving artist as Hosoi Chobunsai, with seals Hosoi and Chobunsai. Rare complete and as Jack Hillier wrote in The Art of the Japanese Book, Sotheby’s, vol. 1, p. 454: “The other book with colour prints by Eishi is one of the major masterpieces of the colour-printer’s art.” Provenance: Ex Hayashi collection ( large and small seals ) and Edmond de Goncourt with an annotation by him at end of second preface where he states that he purchased it from Hayashi in 1888 for 200 francs ( and sold, lot 1499, in Goncourt sale, 10/3/1897, Hotel Drouot, Paris ). There is also a small oval seal with a capital “G” running through the book. This appears to be another collector as it does not tally with Goncourt’s seals.
Old brocade covers and title slip, probably not original. Very fine impressions and colour. Minor backed wormage on preface and colophon, otherwise very good condition.
Status: Sold
Hosoda EISHI (1756-1829)
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A triptych representing Matsukaze, “The Wind in the Pines,” Chapter XVIII, from a set of triptychs Furyu yatsushi Genji, “Genji in Modern Dress.” Brandt, Hosoda Eishi, Stuttgart, 1977, lists nine from the series (this being no. 58, p. 116, illustrated p. 16). Based on the famous early 11th century novel Genji Monogatari written by Murasaki Shikibu. Shows court ladies, one playing a koto on the engawa far right, others welcoming the arrival of Prince Genji, far left. Published by Senichi, c. 1792. Provenance: Ex Worcester Art Museum and Louis W. Black collections, sold Sothebys N.Y., 4/3/1976, lot 122.
Extremely fine impression and perfect unfaded colours. Album backing, otherwise fine condition. Signed Eishi ga (with a small sumi insertion to read Eisui).
Status: Sold
Hosoda EISHI (1756-1829)
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A small chuban print showing silkworm cultivation. Two girls feed mulberry leaves to the silkworms, another stands behind. A certain license was taken with this subject and designs did not necessarily faithfully follow the procedure or the girls truly depict the actual labourers. Published by Nishimuraya Yohachi, c 1800. This set (probably of 12) would have been printed two-to-a-sheet. Rare.
Fine impression and fine unfaded colours. Fine condition. Signed Eishi ga.
Status: Sold
Hosoda EISHI (1756-1829)
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The courtesan Shizuka of the Shizutama-ya from the set of six prints Seiro bijin rokkasen, “Six Poems on Yoshiwara Beauties as Flowers.” One of the most beautiful sets of this period. Published 1794 by Nishimuraya Yohachi (Eijudo). The centre cartouche has a seasonal bloom, in this case the pink which was the emblem of Shizuka. See Klaus Brandt, Hosoda Eishi, 1977, 51, no. 172. Another impression was in the Popper sale catalogue, no. 138 and the impression from the Museum fur Ostasiatische Kunst, Berlin, is illustrated in the 1974 Tokyo Exhibition catalogue, no. 146.
Fine impression. Very good colour and condition. Yellow ground and mica on collar. Signed Eishi zu.
Status: Sold
Hosoda EISHI (1756-1829)
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The parading courtesan Yosooi of Matsubaya with her kamuro Tomeki and Nioi. Not listed in Brandt. Published by Nishimuraya Yohachi (Eijudo) c 1800. She must have been a popular courtesan as she is depicted on many prints by various artists around this date.
Fine impression. Very good colour: Pale yellow ground. Very slight centre fold, otherwise very good condition. Signed Eishi zu.
Status: Sold
Hosoda EISHI (1756-1829)
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A parading courtesan, Senzan of the Choji-ya house, with her two kamuro, Isieji and Hanaji. From a set of seven prints Seiro moyo awase, “A Comparison of Patterns of the Green houses.” Published by Eijudo, 1796-7. The title on a teacup. A luxurious yellow ground. See Klaus J. Brandt, 1977, no. 263, p. 146. A fine set. Rare.
Fine impression. Extremely fine, unfaded colour. Fine condition: Untrimmed with extra paper at left. A benchmark example for prints of this period. Signed Eishi zu.
Status: Sold
Hosoda EISHI (1756-1829)
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The courtesan Shizuka of the Shizutama-ya from the set of six prints: Seiro bijin rokkasen, “Six Poems on Yoshiwara Beauties as Flowers.” One of the most beautiful sets of this period published 1794 by Eijudo. The centre cartouche has a seasonal bloom, in this case the pink which was the emblem of Shizuka. See Klaus Brandt, Hosoda Eishi, 1977, 51, no 172. Another impression was in the Popper sale cat. no 138 and the impression from the Museum fur Ostasiatische Kunst, Berlin, is illustrated in the 1974 Tokyo Exhibition catalogue, no 146.
Fine impression. Very good colour and condition. Yellow ground and mica on collar. Signed Eishi zu.
Status: Sold
Hosoda EISHI (1756-1829)
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An extremely rare hosoban showing the oiran Hanaogi with her two kamuro from the House of Ogi. This appears to have been from a series as I had another design from the set in my Catalogue 8, 1972, no 38, showing Hinazuru of Choji-ya. Another Eishi hosoban appeared in the Sotheby sale catalogue, July 1963, lot 195. A rare format for anything other than actor prints during this period. Published c 1792. Ex Mellor and P & L Warnock collections. Illustrated in The Floating World Exhibition: Japan’s World of Transient Pleasures, The Art Gallery of South Wales, Sydney, 1994, no. C6.
Very good impression and colour. Printed in tones of pale mauve and grey with details in yellow. Light yellow ground. Some slight soil. Signed Eishi ga.
Status: Sold