Richard Kruml

Richard Kruml

Katsukawa SHUN’EI (1762-1819)

Click here to view image full size. The actor Segawa Kikunojo III in an unidentified onnagata role adjusting her hair in a mirror. Shun’ei was a gifted pupil of Katsukawa Shunsho. Designed many hosobans but also some fine bust portraits…

Katsukawa SHUNSHO (1726-1792)

Click here to view image full size. The actor Otani Hiroemon III in an unidentified role leaning forward with a sword in his mouth. Shunsho was a prolific designer of actor prints as well as views of the green room,…

Utagawa KUNISADA (1786-1864)

Click here to view image full size. An okubi-e showing the actor Arashi Hinasuke I as Fujiwara no Shihei. This was the Minister of the Left, the antagonist, in Sugawara denju tenarai kagami, “Sugawara’s Secrets of Calligraphy.” The set of…

Tsukioka YOSHITOSHI (1839-1892)

Click here to view image full size. A triptych showing from left to right the actors: Seki Sanjuro III as Nippon Daemon (above) and Ichimura Uzaemon XIII as Benten Kozo Kikunosuke. Centre: Nakamura Shikan IV as Nango Rikimaru. Right: Iwai…

Tsukioka YOSHITOSHI (1839-1892)

Click here to view image full size. Strange Wind from a set of actor prints Seiu kandankei, “A Barometer of Emotions.” A fine set published by Okura Magobei 1876-7. Shows Onoe Kikugoro V as the ghost of the cormorant fisherman…

Torii KIYOMITSU (1735-1785)

Click here to view image full size. An hosoban showing two adversaries, the lower figure fighting off his opponent while seated on a fish trap in a stream. The upper figure is the actor Nakamura Sukegoro I as Kenkaya Goroemon…

Toyohara KUNICHIKA (1835-1900)

Click here to view image full size. 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…

Utagawa KUNISADA (1786-1864)

Click here to view image full size. The actor Matsumoto Koshiro VI as the otokodate (a roguish yet honourable character) Daikokuya Soroku from a set Rien kyokaku-den, “The Story of a Chivalrous Man of the Theatrical World.” The set published…

Kitao MASAYOSHI (1764-1824)

 Click here to view image full size. One volume complete Sansui ryakuga shiki, “Landscapes in the Cursive Picture Style.” Published by Suwaraya Ichibei, Kansei 12 ( 1800 ). This is the first edition. It was reprinted in 1813. I fine…

Katsukawa SHUN’EI

Click here to view image full size. An hosoban showing Iwai Hanshiro IV in a “Shibaraku” role, probably as Akita Jonosuke Yoshikage from the play Mieiko nori no hachi no ki performed at the Kawarazaki Theatre in the 11th month,…

Torii KIYONOBU II (1706-1763)

Click here to view image full size. An hosoban showing the actors Ichimura Uzaemon VIII (above) and Segawa Kikujiro I in an onnagata role. Published by Emiya Kichiemon, c. 1746. Another impression in the MET (JP831), listed as Kiyonobu I.…

Torii KIYOMITSU (1735-1785)

Click here to view image full size. An hosoban benizuri-e print in beni, yellow and blue showing the actor Segawa Kikunojo II (bottom left) in the role of musume Kagekiyo and Ichimura Uzaemon IX (top right) as Osu…, possibly Osutoko.…

Katsukawa SHUNSHO (1726-1792)

Click here to view image full size. An hosoban showing the actor Ichikawa Danjuro V as a blacksmith forging a sword blade. An unidentified role published c. 1780.     Fine impression. Very good colour and condition. Signed Shunsho ga.…

Utagawa TOYOKUNI I (1769-1825)

Click here to view image full size. The actor Nakamura Utaemon II playing two roles (out of seven), Nana yaku no uchi, which are: the Manzai street entertainer Tsuchiemon (seated) and Kudayu’s daughter Okumi, in the play Chushin koshaku performed…

Utagawa TOYOKUNI I (1769-1825)

Click here to view image full size. The actors Matsumoto Koshiro V (right) as the barber Nagata Taro; in reality Kamada Masakiyo, and Segawa Michinosuke I as Genkichi’s wife, Osoro; in reality Nagata’s younger sister, in the play Wakazakari Heike…

Utagawa TOYOKUNI I (1769-1825)

Click here to view image full size. The actor Onoe Matsusuke I as the ghost of the wife of Kohada Koheiji in the play Eiri otogi zoshi performed at the Ichimura-za Theatre, 7 In fact, Matsusuke played both the wife…

Toyohara KUNICHIKA (1835-1900)

Click here to view image full size. A fine triptych showing the actor Ichikawa Danjuro IX in Shibaraku role. Kabuki juhachiban no uchi: shibaraku, “The Eighteen Famous Kabuki Plays: Shibaraku.” Published by Fukuda Kumajiro, 8 Illustrated on the front cover…

Utagawa KUNISADA (1786-1864)

Click here to view image full size. A vertical diptych showing the actor Onoe Baiko III in the role of the vengeful and disfigured spirit of Kasane above Sawamura Tossho I as her husband Kinoshitagawa Yoemon. From the play Kuruwa…

Toyohara KUNICHIKA (1835-1900)

Click here to view image full size. A vertical triptych showing Onoe Kikugoro as Okiku’s ghost; Ichikawa Danjuro IX as the daimyo Aoyama Tessan, and Onoe Kikujiro V and Onoe Matsusuke V as his retainers in the play Sarayashi kesho…

Utagawa KUNISADA (1786-1864)

Click here to view image full size. The actor Danjuro VIII as the ghost of Seigen from a set of prints Mitate sanjurokkasen no uchi, “An Imaginary Thirty-six Poets” published by Iseya Kanekichi in 1852. The relevant poet in this…

Utagawa KUNISADA (1786-1864)

Click here to view image full size. The actor Ichikawa Kodanji IV in the role of the vengeful and disfigured spirit of Kasane (Kasane no Bokon) from a set of prints Mitate sanjurokkasen no uchi, “An Imaginary Thirty-six Poets” published…

Utagawa KUNIYOSHI (1797-1861)

 Click here to view image full size. A diptych showing the actors Bando Shuka (left) as O-kaji, wife of Danshichi, with sword drawn attacking Seki Sanjuro III as the old hag, wife of Giheiji of Mikawa-cho in pouring rain. From…

Utagawa KUNICHIKA (1835-1900)

 Click here to view image full size. A triptych showing the actor Ichikawa Sandanji I as Akiyama Kiimori amidst an intense conflagration started in an attempt to capture him, Yakuchi no ba. From the series Meiijiza shinkyogen, “New Plays from…

Tsukioka YOSHITOSHI (1839-1892)

Click here to view image full size. A triptych showing the priest Iwakura Sogen in a snowy garden. “Snow” from a set of three half-length portraits of actors with title: Setsugekka no uchi, “Snow, Moon, and Flowers.” Sogen was infatuated…

Taiso YOSHITOSHI (1839-1892)

 Click here to view image full size. The actor Onoe Kikugoro V as Aoyagi Harunosuke from a fine and rare set of 14 actor prints: Seiu kandankei, “A Barometer of Emotions.” This being Full Tide. The set published by Okura…

Toyohara KUNICHIKA (1835-1900)

 Click here to view image full size. A full-on image of the actor Ichikawa Danjuro IX as Kamakura Gongoro Kagemasa in the Shibaraku play with the voluminous costume associated with the role. Title: Kabuki juhachiban no uchi/Shibaraku, “The Eighteen Famous…

Toyohara KUNICHIKA (1835-1900)

Click here to view image full size. The actor Otani Tomoemon V playing the role of Ono no Michikaze (also read as Ono no Tofu) in the play Ono no Tofu Aoyagi Suzuri performed at the Ichimura-za Theatre, 5 From…

Tsukioka YOSHITOSHI (1839-1892)

Click here to view image full size. Hana, “Flowers” from the set Setsugekka no uchi, “Snow, Moon, and Flowers.” Shows the actor Ichikawa Sadanji as Gosho no Gorozo. The main character in the play Soga moyo tateshi no goshozome, “The…