Richard Kruml

Richard Kruml

Ichiryusai HIROSHIGE (1797-1858)

 Click here to view image full size. One of Hiroshige’s most beautiful triptychs: Sumidagawa setchu no zu,“The Sumida River in Snow” from a series Edo meisho shiki no nagame, “Views of the Famous Places of Edo in the Four Seasons.”…

Utagawa KUNIYOSHI (1797-1861)

 Click here to view image full size. A complete triptych showing beauties in boats on the Sumida River. Shubi no matsu, “Successful-deal Pine Tree” from a set Edo meisho somoku-zukushi, “Notable Sights Famous for Grass and Trees in Edo.” This…

Kochoro KUNISADA (1786-1865)

 Click here to view image full size. An original wood block showing actors as Kuzunoha and Abe no Yasuna. Kuzunoha was the fox wife of Yasuna and is usually depicted nursing her child or appearing as a white fox giving…

Utagawa TOYOKUNI (1769-1825)

 Click here to view image full size. A silver mica-ground double bust portrait of Hikosaburo Bando III as Kan Shojo ( Sugawara Michizane ) disgraced and sent to Tsukushi, and Kataoka Nizaemon VII as Hakudayu from the play Sugawara denju…

Kochoro KUNISADA (1786-1865)

 Click here to view image full size. An extremely important original wood block. Shows the onnagata actor Onoe Kikugoro IV as the chinohito, ‘wet-nurse,’ Masaoka, in the play ‘Konoshita Masagono Date-zome,’ performed at the Ichimura Theatre, 9 Designed for the…

Kochoro KUNISADA (1786-1865)

 Click here to view image full size. A fine view of the inside of a theatre with a performance taking place. The faces of the audience in the stalls are carefully drawn and it’s obvious that many were meant to…

Toyohara KUNICHIKA (1835-1900)

 Click here to view image full size. A vertical diptych showing Onoe Kikugoro V as Nikki Danjo transforming himself by majic into a rat. In his mouth the stolen will with which he was trying to strip Tsuru-chiyo of his…

Toyohara KUNICHIKA (1835-1900)

 Click here to view image full size. A vertical diptych depicting the story of the Inaba Apprentice. Title: Inaba ama-yobanashi. Shows Onoe Kikugoro V as the ghost of Saijiro; Bando Kakitsu as Kanbara Mikinosuke and Onoe Matsukuke as Nakama Gonbee.…

Toyohara KUNICHIKA (1835-1900)

 Click here to view image full size. A vertical diptych showing the actor Onoe Kikugoro V, dagger in hand and covered in blood, confronting a giant serpent. Published by Fukuda Kumajiro, 1887. Extremely rare. Fine impression and colour. Extensive mica…

Toyohara KUNICHIKA (1835-1900)

 Click here to view image full size. A vertical diptych showing the actors Ichikawa Danjuro as the teacher Kondo Tatsuo and Ichikawa Sadanji as Mikura Tomizo. Title: Kishu no oki kisen chinbotsu no ba, “ Sunken Ship in the Sea…

Utagawa TOYOKUNI (1769-1825)

 Click here to view image full size. An aiban bust portrait showing Iwai Hanshiro IV in an onnagata role. Published by Yamaguchi Chusuke c 1794. Another aiban okubi-e of the same actor in another onnagata role and of the same…

Ichiyusai KUNIYOSHI (1797-1861)

 Click here to view image full size. The complete set of five prints: Date otoku kisho kurabe, “A contest of Fashionable Men.” Shows actors as otokodate ( so-called chivalrous commoners, recognisable by the fact that they carried a sword together…

Katsukawa SHUNKO (1743-1812)

 Click here to view image full size. Ichikawa Yaozo III in a Shibaraku role c 1800. This standard Kabuki interlude was invented by Danjuro I as part of the drama Sankai Nagoya in 1697 and translates as “Wait a moment.”…

Ichiryusai HIROSHIGE (1797-1858)

 Click here to view image full size. An excessively rare triptych showing the interior of a large mansion where a private performance of Kabuki interlude plays is being performed. Some of the most famous actors of the day are shown:…

Utagawa KUNISADA (1786-1865)

 Click here to view image full size. Shiragikumaru from the play Tsuruya Namboku riding the back of an enormous prehistoric-looking sea animal. From the set: Toyokuni kigo kijutsu kurabe, “A Contest of Magic-scenes by Toyokuni” published by Hiranoya Shinzo 12…

Torii KIYOMASU I (Active c1700-1722)

 Click here to view image full size. The actor Nakamura Takesaburo playing a female itinerant tea vendor. A pair of panniers is slung across his shoulders holding the paraphernalia for tea making including, in the lower sections, a brazier and…

Ichieisai YOSHITSUYA (1822-1866)

 Click here to view image full size. A print from a set of three with title: Sanshibai mitate tako, “Parody of the Three Plays Shown as Kites”. Shows various kite designs together with accoutrements to kite flying. The actors image/s…

Ichieisai YOSHITSUYA (1822-1866)

 Click here to view image full size. A print from a set of three with title: Sanshibai mitate tako, “Parody of the Three Plays Shown as Kites”. Shows various kite designs together with accoutrements to kite flying. The actors image/s…

Katsukawa SHUN’EI (1762-1819)

 Click here to view image full size. The actor Segawa Kikunojo III as Yasukata performing a vigorous hobby-horse dance in Godai Genji mitsugi no furisode. Published by Tsuruya Kiemon c1790-91. Ex Tamba collection (seal bottom right). Very good impression, colour…

Taiso YOSHITOSHI (1839-1892)

 Click here to view image full size. An actor as a tattooed fireman from a set of seven prints Isami no Kotobuki. “A Celebration of Gallantry”. Firemen often had elaborate tattoos to show their indifference to pain. The set published…

Taiso YOSHITOSHI (1839-1892)

 Click here to view image full size. An actor as a tattooed fireman from a set of seven prints Isami no Kotobuki. “A Celebration of Gallantry”. Firemen often had elaborate tattoos to show their indifference to pain. The set published…

Utagawa KUNIYOSHI (1797-1861)

 Click here to view image full size. A beauty in sumptuous clothing from a fine set of seventy numbered prints with title: Sankai medetai zu, “Excellences of Mountain and Sea.” The set compares busts of beautiful women with various products…

Utagawa KUNIYOSHI (1797-1861)

 Click here to view image full size. A beauty in sumptuous clothing from a fine set of seventy numbered prints with title: Sankai medetai zu, “Excellences of Mountain and Sea.” The set compares busts of beautiful women with various products…

Utagawa KUNISADA (1786-1864)

 Click here to view image full size. A lively design showing Ichikawa Danjuro VII in the role of the loyal warrior Arajishi Otokonosuke Terumitsu fighting a giant rat in the cellar beneath the women’s quarters of the Ashikaga Palace. This…

Jokei RYUKOSAI (Fl. c 1772-1816)

 Click here to view image full size. The most important and influential Osaka artist of the late eighteenth century. An innovator whose style may well have influenced such artists as Shunei and Sharaku. His prints – mostly hosoban – are…