Dealing in fine Japanese prints, paintings and books since 1968
Dealing in fine Japanese prints, paintings and books since 1968
Click here to view image full size. A beauty climbing stairs, the ninth month from a set of twelve. Published c 1813 by Nishimuraya Yohachi. Beauties ascending stairs was a stock subject for ukiyo-e artists. I’m not sure why. …
Click here to view image full size. An aiban from a set of four prints: Shiki warabe asobi, a series of prints comparing young children to the four seasons. Another from the set is illustrated in Estampes Japonaises. Collection des…
Click here to view image full size. A beauty from a set Furyu hakkei, “Fashionable Eight Views.” Each beauty represents one of the famous Eight Views of Omi, here being Evening Glow at Seta.This theme, which originates from China, is…
Click here to view image full size. Shows Shinanoya Ohan (left) and Obiya Choemon from a series of half-length portraits of pairs of lovers featured in joruri love-suicide plays. Jisu kurabe iro no minakami, “True Feelings Compared: The Founts of…
Click here to view image full size. A parading oiran, Senzan of the Choji-ya, with her two kamuro Isoji and Hanaji. From a set Seiro moyo awase “Comparisons of Brothel Patterns.” Published by Nishimuraya Yohachi (Eijudo), c 1796-7. See Brandt,…
Click here to view image full size. A mother holding her child dressed as Kintaro (later Sakata no Kintoki) holding a small hatchet (ono). From a series Shichi henge kodakara asobi, “Dance of Seven Changes Played by Precious Children.” Published…
Click here to view image full size. Tanoshindei-so: Kaei nenken shisho no fuzoku, “Looking as if She is Enjoying Herself: The Appearance of a Teacher During the Kaei Period [1848-1854].” Shows a samisen teacher, the majority of whose pupils would…
Click here to view image full size. An hashira-e, “pillar print.” A night scene showing a beauty on the shoulders of her lover reaching up to a branch of plum blossom beneath a spring moon. From a set Furyu Rokkasen,…
Click here to view image full size. A yellow ground aiban showing the high-ranking courtesan Hinazuru of the Chojiya House with her two kamuro Tsuruji and Tsuruno. Little is known of his life: Probably a pupil, together with Utamaro, of…
Click here to view image full size. A pillar print showing the courtesan Ariwara and her young attendant Arishige (below), both of the Tsuruya House. Utamaro’s output of hashira-e was not as great as some other artists, and they are…
Click here to view image full size. A benigirai-e (red-avoiding) triptych showing from right to left: A young nobleman with a falcon, a beauty beside him holding his sword and another seated smoking a pipe; the centre panel shows two…
Click here to view image full size. 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…
Click here to view image full size. Two volumes complete Yakusha sangaikyo, “Amusements of Actors on the Third Floor” (iez the dressing-rooms or green rooms). Published Kansei 13 (1801) by Nishimiya Shinroku and Yorozuya Tajiemon, Edo. An extremely rare and…
Click here to view image full size. A beauty from a set: Edo meisho gosho, “Five Elements of Famous Places in Edo.” This design representing Water of Kameido, Kameido no mizu, and Metal of Ueno, Uenoji no kane. A rare…
Click here to view image full size. Urusa-so: Kansei nenkan shojo no fuzoku, “Looking Tiresome: The Appearance of a Virgin of the Kansei Era [1789-1801]” Shows a young woman playing with her cat from a set Thirty-two Aspects of Women…
Click here to view image full size. Kayu-so: Kaei nenken kakoi-mono no fuzoku, “Looking Itchy: The Appearance of a Kept Woman of the Kaei era [1848-1854]. Shows a bare-breasted beauty emerging from a mosquito net from a set Thirty-two Aspects…
Click here to view image full size. An oiran, Meizan (or Nayama) of the Chojiya House in the Shin-Yoshiwara with her two kamuro. From a large series – the total not known – with title: Hinagata wakana no hatsu moyo,…
Click here to view image full size. A triptych: Mitate gogyo: Mizu, Ukifune, “Comparisons of the Five Elements: Water,” Ukifune. Shows Prince Genji in a boat with his attendants feeding ducks during the winter. Ukifune was the nickname of a…
Click here to view image full size. A chuban print showing a woman at a washtub watched by a small child. Another woman is hanging a kimono out to dry. Without any series title but with a scalloped cloud above…
Click here to view image full size. Manjiya uchi Manshiu, “Manshiu of the Manjiya [Brothel or House]” from a set: Hinagata wakana no hatsu moyo, “New Year Designs as Fresh as Young Leaves.” One of the great 18th century sets…
Click here to view image full size. Kanzashi no seiran, “Clearing Weather of the Hairpin” from a chuban set Jochu tedogu hakkei, “Eight Views of Women’s Utensils.” Published c. 1777. Another from the set published in the Clarence Buckingham Collection…
Click here to view image full size. 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…
Click here to view image full size. The poetess Ome Shushiki (1668-1725) looking at a poem attached to a tree at Ueno. A chu-tanzaku set of eight prints: Kenjo hakkei, “Eight Views of Accomplished Women.” The set published by Ibaya…
Click here to view image full size. Kogo no Tsubone (1157 – ?) on a balcony after being banished from court. A chu-tanzaku set of eight prints: Kenjo hakkei, “Eight Views of Accomplished Women.” The set published by Ibaya Sensaburo,…
Click here to view image full size. The faithful wife of Mama walking on a hillside with falling maple leaves. A chu-tanzaku set of eight prints: Kenjo hakkei, “Eight Views of Accomplished Women.” The set published by Ibaya Sensaburo, c…
Click here to view image full size. A hosoban kappazuri (stencil) print of the beauty Kuruharu (or Yukiharu) of the Naraya brothel/tea house holding a teacup. Published by Kashiwaya Soshichi, a Kyoto publisher in c 1807. He is known to…
Click here to view image full size. A triptych showing a party of women and a child running in rain towards the entrance of the Mimeguri Shrine. Mimeguri no yudachi, “An Evening Shower at Mimeguri.” This famous shrine was on…
Click here to view image full size. Shows a trainee courtesan applying rouge to her eyes. Odori shisho, “The Dancing Girl” from a set Tosei bijin awase, “A Collection of Modern Beauties.” The set published by Moritaya Hanzo, c. 1826.…
Click here to view image full size. The left sheet of a rare diptych which was originally produced as an egoyomi (picture calendar) in 1766. A mitate (parody) of Chapter 4, Yugao, from the Genji Monogatari, “Tale of Genji.” This…
Click here to view image full size. The courtesans Hinazuru, Origiku and Misayama of the Chojiya House. The most prolific of Eishi’s pupils who produced some outstanding bust portraits. Published by Yamaguchiya Chusuke, c late 1790’s. Another impression is in…