Utagawa TOYOKUNI I (1769-1825)

Click here to view image full size. A fanciful version of the Yoshino River scene in Act III from the play Imoseyama onna teikin, “The Teachings for Women.” Two families own estates on opposite sides of the Yoshino River. The son of one, Koganosuke, falls in love with the daughter, Hinadori, of the other oblivious of the fact that the two families are bitter enemies. The couple rather commit suicide than be separated. In fact, the play was performed at the Kawarasaki-za Theatre, 7/1801, although this does not depict the actual performance. Interestingly, the publisher’s seal is omitted which is exactly the same as two other impressions in MFA, Boston, acc. no 21.7783-5 and the Salt and Tobacco Museum in Japan.   Very good impression. Extremely good colour. Very good condition. Signed Toyokuni ga.   Status: Sold  

Utagawa KUNIYOSHI (1797-1861)

Click here to view image full size. A triptych showing beauties carrying brine in yoked buckets to be made into salt. From a set Mu Tamagawa, Mutsu no kuni chidori no Tamagawa, “Six Jewel Rivers, Plover Jewel River in Mutsu Province.” Also known as the Noda Jewel River. Above, a flock of chidori. The Mu Tamagawa theme was popular in Japanese art. Published by Sanoya Kihei, 1847-8. Very good impression. Slight fading, otherwise good colour. Very good condition. Signed Ichiyusai Kuniyoshi ga. Status: Sold

Kitao SHIGEMASA ( 1739-1820 )

 Click here to view image full size. A chuban print showing silkworm cultivation. No. 4 from Kaiko yashinai gusa, “The Occupation of Silkworm Cultivation.” The set designed with Shunsho ( nos. 1,3,6,8,11,12 ). Shigemasa also collaborated with Shunsho in 1776 on the book A Mirror of Beautiful Women of the Green Houses. No publisher given but published 1772. Fine impression.Oxidation of the gofun and orange pigment but exceptional colour preservation for a print of this date. Fine condition. Signed Kitao Shigemasa ga. Status: Sold

Kikugawa EIZAN (1787-1864)

Click here to view image full size. A triptych with title: Furyu nuno zarashi, “Elegant Drying Clothes.” Shows six beauties washing, pounding and fulling cloth in one of the Crystal rivers. A connotation to draw from the six figures would seem to indicate the Six Tama Rivers – a popular subject in Ukiyo-e. The public seemed particularly curious about these beauties who washed clothing in streams, as well as the women and girls, oharame, who went into Kyoto to sell firewood and charcoal, also awabi divers. Nunozarashi was also the name of a dance that involved streamers of cloth being swirled around. There was a history of painting the Tamagawa rivers going back to at least the mid 17th century, and it was also a popular subject for poets. These “crystal” rivers or streams were indeed clear and unpolluted at this time and there would have been an abundance of fish as well. Published by Izumiya Ichibei, c.1811-18. Rare.     Superb impression, colour and condition. On heavy de-luxe hosho. Signed Kikugawa Eizan hitsu.     Status: Sold

Kitagawa UTAMARO (1753-1806)

Click here to view image full size. A scene in the licensed quarter: Tora no koku, “Hour of the Tiger [4am]” from a set Seiro juni toki tsuzuki, “Series: The Twelve Hours in Yoshiwara.” Shows two courtesans chatting and seated before a brazier. Until 1873, the day was divided into twelve equal intervals (of 120 minutes), so ushi no tora was from 3am to 5am. Published by Tsutaya Juzaburo, c. 1794. Rare.     Fine impression. Very good colour; yellow ground. Loss of brass filings, otherwise very good condition. Signed Utamaro hitsu.     Status: Sold

Yurakusai NAGAHIDE (fl. c. 1804-1848)

 Click here to view image full size. An excessively rare pillar print showing a beauty holding a fan beneath flowering wisteria. There are another four pillar prints known by him. The only other impression I can locate of this print is illustrated in Jacob Pins, The Japanese Pillar Print: Hashira-e, 1982, no. 1002, p. 349. Provenance: Ex Samuel Tuke collection (a large part of his collection was sold at Sothebys in 1911).   Very good impression and colour. Slight edge soil, otherwise very good condition. Signed Nagahide ga.   Status: Sold  

Suzuki HARUNOBU (1724-1770)

Click here to view image full size. Two couples in a brothel. The young man near the entrance seems in need of a lot of encouragement. The name written on the left of the entrance is Sumiyoshi. A chuban yokoe design published c 1769-70. Another impression is in ROM, 926.18.121. Very good impression and colour. Minimal soil, otherwise good condition. Signed Suzuki Harunobu ga on the rear screen. Status: Sold

Kikugawa EIZAN (1787-1867)

Click here to view image full size. An aiban print showing the courtesan Segawa of the Matsubaya drinking ayamezake (a sake soaked with iris root) from a set Seiro gosekku, “Beauties of the Yoshiwara Compared to the Five Festivals.” In this case the Boys’ Festival held on the 5th May. Published by Iseya Soemon, c 1810.   Fine impression, very good colour and condition. Signed Kikugawa Eizan fude.   Status: Sold    

Keisai EISEN (1790-1848)

 Click here to view image full size. The courtesan Nanakoshi of Sano Matsu-ya. Station Kusatsu from a series parodying Yoshiwara courtesans with the 53 Stations of the Tokaido; the set seen as a sugoroku game, the winner gaining the lover. The set published by Tsutaya Kichizo, c late 1830s. Fine impression and colour. Small stain lower left corner and minor marks, but otherwise very good condition. Signed Keisai Eisen ga. Status: Sold

Taiso YOSHITOSHI (1839-1892)

 Click here to view image full size. Noisy. A young woman of the Kansei period playing with a cat from the set Fuzoku sanjuniso, the “Thirty-Two Types of Beauty in Daily Life” published by Tsunashima 1888. One of the most sought after designs from the set. The first edition. Very fine impression and colour. Full size with the extra paper left and top. Signed Yoshitoshi ga. Status: Sold

Kitagawa TSUKIMARO (FI.?-1830)

 Click here to view image full size. A bijin adjusting her hair before a mirror from a set: Hana no kazari no fuzei, “Elegance of the Flower Decoration”. Published by Tsuru Kin c1810’s. Very good impression and colour. Minor marks: slight edge nibbling and the paper laid-lines evident top and bottom, but otherwise very good. Signed Tsukimaro hitsu. Status: Sold

Keisai EISEN (1790-1848)

 Click here to view image full size. A triptych entitled Fuzoku shi-nho-ko sho, “The Customs of Different Classes, Samurai, Farmers, Artisans and Tradesmen”. Published by Kawaguchiya Uhei c.1820s. Very good impression, perfect colour. Original album backing. Fine condition. Signed Keisai Eisen ga. Status: Sold

Isoda KORYUSAI (Fl.c.1764-1788)

 Click here to view image full size. The courtesan Chozan of Choji-ya from the series: Hinagata Wakana no hatsu-moyo, “Models for Fashions: New Designs as Fresh as Young Leaves”. The set published c.1782. Printed on heavy hosho. Fine impression. Exceptional colour for a print of this series and date. Expert edge repair at centre left and slight signs of mounting au verso around edge, but otherwise a fine example. Signed Koryusai ga. Status: Sold

Ichirakutei EISUI (active 1789-1804)

 Click here to view image full size. Excessively rare bust portrait of the courtesan Hanahito of the Ogi-ya. The Doll Festival from a set of the Five Seasonal Festivals published by Maru-ya Bun’emon, c.1798. The British Museum impression of this print is illustrated in Ukiyo-e Masterpieces in European Collections, no.205. Very good impression and colour. Slight soil and creasing but overall a nice example of this uncommon artist’s work. Signed Ichirakutei Eisui ga. Status: Sold

Utagawa KUNISATO (?-1858)

 Click here to view image full size. Female figures and a child against a backdrop of the Sumida River and the Ryogoku Bridge. Azuma meisho Ryogokubashi yugeshiki. Published by Maru-ya Kiyojiro, Hare 2 (1855). Very good impression and colour. Minor soil and wormage, otherwise very good condition. Signed Ritsusensai Kunisato ga. Status: Sold

Nishikawa SUKENOBU (1671-1751)

Click here to view image full size. A client taking leave from his paramour, her assistant stands back holding small presents. Sukenobu was born, lived and died in Kyoto. Apart from some paintings and prints, his extensive output was in the form of illustrated books, and albums. The example here is from one of these albums. Always in sumi, without colour.     Very good impression. Some expertly repaired wormage and centre fold (as usual).     Status: Sold    

Kitagawa HIDEMARO (active circa early 19th century)

 Click here to view image full size. A pupil of Utamaro who produced some fine work at the turn of the century. An aiban double bust portrait of the courtesan Sodenoura of the Tamaya House and her kamuro. Published c1810s. Fine impression and colour. Minor creases and several small backed wormholes, but overall lovely, fresh design. Full size. Signed Hidemaro ga. Status: Sold

Ichiryusai HIROSHIGE (1797-1858)

 Click here to view image full size. A chuban triptych showing three beauties relaxing at Takanawa from a set of Eight Views of Edo. Published by Joshuya Kinzo c.1849-50. (Tamba no.146.) Very good impression, colour and condition. Signed Hiroshige ga. Status: Sold

Isoda KORYUSAI (1735-1790)

Click here to view image full size. The courtesan Matsunoi of the Matsubaya with her kamuro. From a large series Hinagata wakana no hatsu moyo, “Models for Fashion: New Year Designs as Fresh as Young Leaves.” Published by Eijudo and Juzaburo in the late 1770s. This set is the largest known bijin series (140 prints being known). However, the quality is consistent throughout. One of the great sets.   Fine impression with excellent colour. Minor soil, otherwise very good condition. Signed Buko Yagenbori inshi, Koryu ga.   Status: Sold  

Kikugawa EIZAN (1787-1867)

 Click here to view image full size. A complete triptych showing young girls in attendance on a court couple. An early (c.1820) design published by Nishimuraya Yohachi. Very good impression, colour and condition. Full size with extra paper for joining. Signed Eizan fude. Status: Sold

Ichiyusai KUNIYOSHI (1797-1861)

 Click here to view image full size. An extremely rare chuban triptych from a set of the Four Seasons, this being “Winter”. Seemingly the only other illustrated example is in Kuniyoshi, Juzo Suzuki, Tokyo, 1992, which shows all four from the set, nos. 233-236. Published by Arita-ya Kiyoyemon, c.1845. Extremely fine impression and colour. Minimal trimming, otherwise fine condition. Signed Cho-o-ro Kuniyoshi ga. Status: Sold

Kitagawa UTAMARO (1753-1806)

 Click here to view image full size. A beauty from the tea-house Suminoe in the district of Shiba from a series: “Comparing the Charms of five Beauties”. The picture-riddle (in the circular cartouche top right) gives the identity of the beauty on each design. In the second edition the riddle is replaced with a flower design. Published by Omiya Gonkuro c.1795-6. Very good impression. Slight fading. Thinned top left and paper strengthened. Signed Shomei Utamaro hitsu. Status: Sold

Ichiyusai KUNIYOSHI (1797-1861)

 Click here to view image full size. Three bijin under Ryogoku Bridge on the Sumida River from a set of “The Four Seasons”, this being summer. Published by Iba-ya Sensaburo. Very good impression, colour and condition. Signed Ichiyusai Kuniyoshi ga. Status: Sold

Utagawa KUNISADA (1786-1865)

 Click here to view image full size. A rare nagaban series of full length bijin published by Kinrindo (Moriya Jihei) c.1835-37. Very good impression and colour; slight soil, otherwise good condition. Signed Kochoro Kunisada ga. Status: Sold

Suzuki HARUNOBU (1724-1778)

 Click here to view image full size. A chuban print of a young girl beside a stream. A poem above, by Ono no Komachi, compares her thoughts to a floating reed. One of a series based on “The Thirty-six Poets”. Another impression illustrated in the Philadelphia Musuem of Art catalogue Suzuki Harunobu, 1970, p.141, no.79. Published c.1767 Superb impression with the girl’s outline and garment folds in heavy relief. Fine colour with only the water slightly down. Signed Harunobu ga. Status: Sold

Nishimura SHIGENOBU (fl. c.1724-35)

 Click here to view image full size. A young woman with straw hat. Ex Vever collection (see part 1, page 28, lot 29, 1974). Published by Urokugata-ya Hangen. Hosoban urushi-e. Minor marks, but good condition for a print of this period. Signed Eshi Nishimura Shigenobu hitsu. Status: Sold

Suzuki HARUNOBU (1724-1770)

Click here to view image full size. An unsigned chuban showing a seated courtesan with her two kamuro. One brings a letter while the other cleans her mistress’s tobacco pipe. Behind is a large kiri-mon on a noren. Published c. 1766-67. Other impressions in the Tokyo National Museum, Honolulu Academy of Arts and The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Rare.     Fine impression. Particularly well preserved colours: Most Harunobu prints sold are faded to some degree. Slight “turning” of the colour on the top of the noren and small smudge bottom left, otherwise very good condition.     Status: Available    

Utagawa SADAKAGE (Fl. c. 1818-1844)

Click here to view image full size. An aizuri-e (blue print) showing a beauty bowing obsequiously with a cup of tea. Shi, “Samurai” from a set of the Four Estates: Shi, Samurai; No, Peasant; Ko, Artisan; Sho, Merchant. Published by Kawaguchiya Chozo, c. 1830s. These blue prints using the imported bero, Berlin blue (what we called Prussian blue), became popular during the 1820s to 1840s as the cost came down.   Very good impression, colour and condition. Signed Gokotei Sadakage ga.   Status: Sold    

Torii KIYONAGA (1752-1815)

Click here to view image full size. One of the great Ukiyo-e artists exemplifying what is called the classical school. He was a pupil of Kiyomitsu and was adopted by the Torii family, inheritating the estate, and was the last major member of the Torii School. From a set Jittai e-fuzoku, “Ten Forms of Manners in Pictures.”A fine design showing a standing beauty looking down at another girl who is raising herself from a futon. The grey back of a screen daringly cuts the design in two. Published by Takasu Soshichi, c. 1794. Provenance: Ex Vever collection (seal bottom right), sold Sothebys, Vever sale, Part 1, 26/3/1974, lot 165. This actual impression illustrated in the seminal Kiyonaga, Chie Hirano, MFA Boston, no. 969, pl. LXI. Another unidentified collector’s seal au verso. Rare.   Fine impression. Very good colour with yellow ground. Some expert restoration around edge, otherwise very good condition. Signed Kiyonaga ga.   Status: Sold