Richard Kruml

Richard Kruml

Utagawa HIROSHIGE (1797-1858)

Click here to view image full size. A complete Tokaido set of 56 prints printed four-to-a-sheet on fourteen sheets, uncut. Each sheet has an indication of where it is to be cut. Published by Aritaya Seiemon, 1845. Extremely rare complete.…

Keisai EISEN (1790-1848)

 Click here to view image full size. Although Eisen produced a considerable number of bijin-e and surimono, his best work was in landscape design and amongst these the finest are this set and a few designs for the Kisokaido. Kirifuri-no-taki,…

Keisai EISEN (1790-1848)

 Click here to view image full size. Although Eisen produced a considerable number of bijin-e and surimono, his best work was in landscape design and amongst these the finest are this set and a few designs for the Kisokaido. Somen-no-taki,…

Taiso YOSHITOSHI (1839-1892)

 Click here to view image full size. A vertical oban diptych showing the renowned swimmer and fishmonger Rorihakucho Chojun grappling underwater with the famous (but non-swimmer) warrior Kokusenpu (“Black Whirlwind”) Riki. The result of Chojun challenging Riki to a fight…

Taiso YOSHITOSHI (1839-1892)

 Click here to view image full size. A triptych showing an exploding land-mine throwing bodies and horses into the ether. Taiheiki Masakiyo nansen no zu, “Masakiyo’s Difficult Battle from the Taiheiki.” Figures identified in the print are the 14th century…

Ichiryusai HIROSHIGE (1797-1858)

 Click here to view image full size. The finest design from all the Hiroshige/Kunisada collaborations with the superb snowscape designed by Hiroshige, and the figures by Kunisada. From a triptych series Furyu Genji, “Elegant Genji.” The Tale of Genji was…

Keisai EISEN (1790-1848)

 Click here to view image full size. Jakko Nunobiki no taki, “Jakko [Temple] Nunobiki Waterfall” from a set of eight prints Nikkosan meisho no uchi, “Celebrated Views in the Nikko Mountains.” Published by Yamamotoya Heikichi c. 1844. Obviously inspired by…

Keisai EISEN (1790-1848)

 Click here to view image full size. Kegon no taki, santaki no sono ikkei, “Kegon Falls, One of the Three Waterfalls” from a set of eight prints Nikkosan meisho no uchi, “Celebrated Views in the Nikko Mountains.” Published by Yamamotoya…

Utagawa SADAHIDE (1807-1873)

 Click here to view image full size. An exceptionally rare triptych showing the great battle between Takeda Shingen (left) and Uesugi Kenshin (right) during the fourth (of five) Kawanakajima battles. Kenshin lunges with his sword but is parried by Shingen…

Utagawa KUNISADA II (1823-1880)

 Click here to view image full size. A snow scene showing Prince Genji and attendants on Sugatami Bridge from a set of twelve months: Junikagetsu Genji no Sugatami. This being the eleventh month. Published by Yamashiroya Jinbei, 1867.   Fine…

Ichiryusai HIROSHIGE II (1829-1869)

 Click here to view image full size. Soshu Shichirigahama, the “Seven Ri Beach” near Kamakura, Kanagawa Prefecture. From the set Shokoku meisho hyakkei, “The One Hundred Views of Famous Places in the Provinces.” From the beach one gets a clear…

Ichiryusai HIROSHIGE (1797-1858)

 Click here to view image full size. Kameido Tenmangu keidai no yuki, “The Compound of the Tenman Shrine at Kameido in Snow.” From a set of twenty-one prints Toto meisho, “Famous Views in the Eastern Capital” published by Sanoya Kihei,…

Ichiryusai HIROSHIGE (1797-1858)

 Click here to view image full size. Numazu, Hikure, “Yellow Dusk” from Tokaido gojusan tsugi, “The Fifty-three Stations of the Tokaido.” The set of fifty-five prints was published jointly by Hoeido and Senkakudo in 1834. Shows travellers about to enter…

Ichiryusai HIROSHIGE (1797-1858)

 Click here to view image full size. Kozuke, Harunasan setchu, “Kozuke [Province], Mount Haruna Under Snow.” From the set of sixty-nine prints, Rokuju-yoshu meisho zue, “Views of Famous Places in the Sixty-odd Provinces.” Published 1856 by Koshihei, although sealed between…

Utagawa KUNIYOSHI (1797-1861)

Click here to view image full size. The warrior Ritchitaisai Genshoji in a boat attacked by grappling-hooks thrown by his adversaries. A design from the set Tsuzoku Suikoden goketsu hyaku-hachi-nin no hitori, “The Hundred and Eight Heroes of the Popular…

MADOYA (Active c. 1830s)

 Click here to view image full size. A surimono by an Osaka artist from a series with title Hasoku shunsho juhachi-ban no uchi,”Eighteen Pieces Praising Spring Near the Water.” Sub-title: Tenpozan (the name of the new port in Osaka Bay).…

Totoya HOKKEI (1780-1850)

 Click here to view image full size. Hokkei, a pupil of Hokusai, is best known for his fine surimono. This rather enigmatic example shows an ox being led by a farmer and his son. There appears to be a festival…

Ichiryusai HIROSHIGE (1797-1858)

 Click here to view image full size. Sukiya embankment in snow, Toto Sukiya-gashi, from Fuji sanjurokkei, the “Thirty-six Views of Fuji.” The set published by Tsutaya Kichizo, 1858. The rampart on the inner side of the moat of Edo Castle…

Utagawa TOYOHIRO (1773-1829)

 Click here to view image full size. A surimono showing a mechanical doll with movable eyes and mouth. It holds two puppets of Chinese boys, karako, playing cymbols. These automata, karakuri ningyo, were popular in Edo-period Japan and those made…

Yashima GAKUTEI (1786-1868)

 Click here to view image full size. A surimono showing two dancers performing the Sparrow dance, Suzume odori. From a set of six prints forming a hexaptych (this being the top left sheet) for the Katsushika Poetry Club, Katsushika rokubantsuzuki,…

Katsushika HOKUSAI (1760-1849)

 Click here to view image full size. A surimono, Watakuri uma, from a series Uma tsukushi, “Horse Series.” The set of at least thirty surimono was issued by the Yomo-gawa Poetry Club for the Horse Year, 1822. The title alludes…