Click on the titles for images.
Seizan Aoyama. active c. 1920's-30's.
Horse Study. c. 1925. Oban: 10 x 15 1/2. Signed and sealed. Aoyama made a series of horses in the zen style in the 1920's - 30's. Affixed to the mat at the top and bottom margins. A fine impression with good color. $175.
Chobunsai Eishi. 1756-1829.
Click on the title for an image.
[A Spring Stroll]. Date seal: kiwame (1738-1848). Oban: 14 x 9 3/8. Publisher: Yeijudo (Nishinomiya Yohachi). Printed on the full sheet. Some staining in the margins; color fading; one wormage spot over the umbrella. A charming image of bijn strolling under cherry blossoms. $67
Ando Hiroshige. 1797-1858.
Click on the titles for images.
Manchurian Crane Feeding Her Fledgling Chicks in their Nest in a Pine Trees, Red Sun Beyond. c. 1848-51. Kakemono-e: 27 5/8 X 9 5/8 (sheet 28 X 9 3/4). Publisher: Marujin (?). Signed and sealed. Excellent condition apart from minor fading ad surface soiling. This image is among Hiroshige's scarcest kacho prints. $3,000.
Goshawk (Okata), Pine and Rising Sun. Date seal: 1852. Oban tata-e diptych (kakemono-e). 28 x 9 1/4 (sight size); 33 1/4 x 13 3/4 (framed). Some fading; 6 wormage spots, one stain in the moon, several fold lines at the top. Kakemono-e prints of this subject appear rarely. $1,750.
The image of a hawk on a pine branch, with the New Year sun rising behind, was a traditional subject of the Kano school. Hiroshige designed several of these kakemono-e which were inexpensive substitutes for the paintings that usually hung in the tokonoma, the alcove that is found in traditional Japanese houses.
Nishimura Hodo.
Click on the title for an image.
Two Rabbits at Night. c. 1938. Woodcut printed in colors. Oban: 14 1/2 x10 (sheet 15 1/2 x 11). Publisher: Takemura Hideo (Yokahama 1926-39). Signed and sealed Hodo. "Made in Japan" seal verso. A rich impression with subtle bokashi shading, extensive gauffrage on the flowers and rabbits, gofun white pigment on the white fur. Pristine color and condition. $550.
Ohara Koson (Shoson). 1877-1945.
Under the name Koson made Russo-Japanese War prints in 1904, and many small kacho prints designed by Matsuki Heikichi of Daikokiya for export. In 1912 he changed his name to Shoson and dedicated himself to paintings. In 1926 he resumed kacho hanga production. Hundreds of his prints were exported to America.
Click on the titles for images. Other images are online.
Nuthatcher Atop Persimmons. c. 1910-1923. Otanzaku: 13 37/16 x 7 3/16 (sheet 14 7/16 x 7 1/2). Signed and sealed Koson. Publisher: Daikoku-ya (Tokyo publisher, 1818-1923). Illustrated: Crows, Cranes & Camellias, K18.1, p. 178. A charming pre-1923 earthquake image with brilliant colors. $750.
Six Wild Geese. 1926. Oban: 14 1/4 x 9 1/2 (sheet 15 1/4 x 10 1/4). Signed and sealed Shoson. Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo - copyright seal "c" (1929-42) in the right-hand margin. A fine early impression in pristine condition. Subtle shading; very detailed carving with gauffrage; crisp lines. Illustrated: Crows, Cranes & Camellias, S11.5, pp. 147, 197. $550.
White Fronted Geese Flying above Reeds and Water. c. 1933. Shikishiban: 10 10/16 x 9 1/16 (sheet 10 14/16 x 9 12/16). Signed and sealed Shoson. Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo. Illustrated: Crows, Cranes & Camellias, S11.6, p. 197. A fine impression with subtle shading and gauffrauge (embossing) in the 2 large birds' feathers. Based on the body markings, these actually appear to be mallard ducks not geese. Pristine color and condition. $500.
Kunichika. 1835-1900.
Toyoharu Kunichika. 1835-1900.
Kunichika was a pupil first of Chikanobu, then of Kunisada.
For small imges, click on Kunichika; for large images, click on the titles.
Kabuki Actors: Ichikawa and Iwai. c. 1860. 14 x 9 1/2 (sheet 14 x 8 3/4). Good color and condition. Soiling in the bottom right-hand; slight toning. $200.
Kabuki Actors. c. 1864. Oban diptych (14 1/8 x 18 3/4. Vivid color; 2 repaired tears in the top margin. $400.
Kabuki Actors Iwai and Ichikawa 1864. Oban diptych (14 1/8 x 19 1/4. Good color and condition. $500.
Kabuki Triptych. The actors are, loft to right, Kino Kuniya Bunzaemon, Suberoku, Miuyra Akemaki. 1865. Each sheet 9 1/2 x 14 x 9 1/2. Good color, paper losses at sheet edges. Provenance: Ulfert Wilke. $950.
Kunimasa. Active 1834-1852.
Click on the title for an image.
Kataoaka Gado II at Hogo. c. 1850. 14 x 9 1/4 (14 1/2 x 9 5/8). Excellent color and condition. $300.
Gototei Kunisada.
Click on the titles for images.
After the Bath. c. 1825. Kakemono-e. 26 1/4 x 8 1/2. Mounted on black silk in the manner of a Japanese watercolor. Trimmed. $1,250.
The Bell. c. 1825. Kakemono-e. 18 x 25 3/4. Mounted on black silk in the manner of a Japanese watercolor. Trimmed. $1,250.
Kawanabe Kyosai. 1864-1942.
Click on the title for an image.
Cat and Rat Beneath a Crescent Moon. Vertical oban. Signed "Kyosai ga." Excellent color and condition. $950.
Shiko Munakata. 1903-1975.
Click on the title for an image.
February -- Orchid. (Nigatsu - Ranjo no saku). 1956. Woodcut with hand-applied color. 17 x 13 (sheet 18 1/4 x 21 1/2). Series: Calender in the Mood of the Tea Ceremony. Signed in pencil "Munakata" and sealed in red Hogan Muna Siko -- sumizuri-e. On the full sheet with deckle edges. $7,500.
A woodcut calender of twleve images was made for the Urasenke tea ceremony school, which reproduced one image each month in its magazine Tanko. Most of the months, including February, are represented by examples from nature traditionally associated with the season. Illustrated: Sori Yangai, The Woodblock and the Artist. The Life and Works of Shiko Munakata.
Okada Saburosuke. 1869-1939.
Click on the title for an image.
Heroine Osan in Daikyoji Mukashi-Goyomi. c. 1923. Dai oban. Image: 15 3/8 x 7 7/8 (sheet 17 3/4 x 11). Series: Complete Works of Chikamatsu. Publisher: Nishima. Printed in tones of grey and beige. A sensitive study of a young woman. $950.
Takeuchi Seiho. 1864-1942.
Click on the title for an image.
[Monkey Business]. Vertical oban. Signed and sealed "Seiho." Excellent color and condition. $950.
Okuhara Seiko. 1837-1918.
Click on the titles for images.
Two Moorhen (or Common Gallinule, Gallinula chlorpus) at a Reed-bank in Mist. Shikishiban: 9 x 9 3/4 (image and sheet). Signed and sealed "Seiko". Illustrated: "Kacho-e by Seiko Compared with Watanabe Seitei's Illustrated Books on Birds and Flowers," Andon76 (2004):41. $275.
Singing Bird with Red Throat (Japanese robin) on a Branch (Saxicola torquata) [Looking Towards the Right]. Shikishiban: 9 1/4 x 9 3/4 (sheet 11 x 11 1/4). Publisher: Daikokuya (Matsuki Heikichi, 1818-1923). Signed Seiko. Illustrated: "Kacho-e by Seiko Compared with Watanabe Seitei's Illustrated Books on Birds and Flowers," Andon 76 (2004):47. $275.
Tree Sparrow (passer montanus) Just Starting from a Branch. Shikishiban: 9 5/8 x 10 1/8 (image and sheet). Publisher: Daikokuya (Matsuki Heikichi, 1818-1923). Signed Seiko. Illustrated: "Kacho-e by Seiko Compared with Watanabe Seitei's Illustrated Books on Birds and Flowers," Andon 76 (2004):49. $275.
Varied Tit (parus varius) [Looking Towards the Left]. Shikishiban: 9 x 9 3/4 (sheet 9 5/8 x 10 3/16). Publisher: Daikokuya (Matsuki Heikichi, 1818-1923). Signed Seiko. Illustrated: "Kacho-e by Seiko Compared with Watanabe Seitei's Illustrated Books on Birds and Flowers," Andon 76 (2004). Cover illustration. Fine color and impression with full margins. $275.
Jun'ichiro Sekino. 1914-1988.
Jun'ichiro Sekino was born in Aomori. From childhood, he knew Munakata Shiko, 11 years his senior. He studied etching, oil painting an drawing in Kyoto. He studied woodblock printmaking with Onchi Koshiro and Maekawa Swnpan. He was a prolific printmaker, who styled ranged from semi-abstract to detailed portraiture. In 1959 he started a series of prints, The Fifty-Three Stations of the Tokaido (Eastern Sea Road), and completed the series in 1974. In 1975, after completion of the series, the received he Ministry of Education Award for his outstanding achievement "in using every possible technique in woodblock printing, Japanese traditional art, and the recreation of the old fifty-three stations on the Tokaido highway in present-day light."
Click on the title for an image.
Okitsu on the Tokaido. c. 1953. Woodcut. 13 7/8 x x 18 (sheet 16 7/8 x 18) . Series: The New 53 Stations of the Tokaido. Signed in watercolor in the image. Printed on paper watermarked "Jun Sekino. Framed. $750.
Takahashi Hiroaki (Shotei).1871-1945.
Click on the titles for images.
Asagoya by Night -- Wagon Puller. pre- 1936. Woodcut printed in colors. Watanabe 1936 catalogue 230; shotei.com website #M30. Woodcut printed in colors. Tanzaku: 14 11/16 x 6 3/8 (sheet 14 15/16 x 6 5/8). Signed and sealed "Hiroaki." Subtle shading; white 'gofun' pigment overprinting and gauffrage in the rain. A stunning night scene. $475.
Mt. Fuji from Miho. c. 1920-30. Woodcut printed in colors. Watanabe 1936 catalogue 228; shotei.com M28. Tanzaku: 14 3/4 x 6 3/8 (sheet 15 x 6 1/2). Signed and sealed "Hiroaki." A fine impression with bokashi shading throughout, and gauffrage on the pine trees and boat. Excellent color and condition. $425.
Sekiyado. c. 1920-30. Woodcut printed in colors. Watanabe 1936 catalogue 210; shotei.com M33. Tanzaku: 14 5/8 x 6 7/16 (sheet 15 1/8 x 6 13/16). Signed and sealed "Shotei." A fine impression with bokashi shading throughout, and white 'gofun' pigments overprinted as smoke. Excellent color and condition. $475.
Shower at Takaido; Passengers at a Loss. Pre-1936. Woodcut printed in colors. Watanabe 1936 catalogue 210; shotei.com M-10. Tanzaku: 14 5/8 x 6 5/16 (sheet 15 1/8 x 6 3/4). Signed and sealed "Shotei." A fine impression with bokashi shading throughout, and gauffrage on the travellers. Excellent color and condition. $475.
Sozan Ito. Born 1884.
Click on the title for an image.
Owl on a Branch. Woodcut. 14 5/8 x 6 3/8 (14 7/8 x 6 5/8). Sealed in the image. $275.
Shunsen, Katsukawa . 1762-c. 1830.
Click on the title for an image.
Restaurant Selling Sweet Rice Dumplings. c. 1820. 15 x 10 1/4 (sheet 15 5/8 x 10 5/8). Good condition and color. Some surface soiling. 1 wormage area above the right foot. $750.
Katsukawa Shunshô (1726 – 1793).
Shunshô first studied painting, and then turned to woodblocks. His early prints, influenced by Harunobu, depict bijin; but from the 1760's he concentrated on portraits of actors. His most important contribution to the genre was his widely influential 'nise-e' ("likeness painting") or 'nigao' ("likenesses"), which were stylized but accurate facial likenesses of actors. These introduced a greater measure of realism and individuation into ukiyo-e actor portraits.
Click on the title for an image.
The Actor Otani Hiroyemon II. c. 1780. Hosoban: 12 5/16 x 5 7/8. Signed "Shunshô ga." Good color and condition; imperfect color in the ground. $1,750
Yamaguchi Soken (after). 1759-1818.
Click on the title for an image.
Peacock. c.1900. 14 1/2 x 6 3/8. Signed 'Soken". A charming image printed with subtle colors and shading, with gauffrauge in the bird's tail. Excellent color and condition. $125.
Tokuriki, Tomikichiro. 1902-2002.
Click on the title for an image.
Lake Biwa Viewed at Medura Temple. c. 1950. Japanese woodblock print. Shishikiban: 10 1/4 x 11 3/8. Series: New Eight Views of Oomi, #5. Printer: Uchida. Excellent color and condition. Signed and sealed. $150.
Toyokuni III. 1786-1864.
For small images, click on Toyokuni III; for large images, click on the titles.
Hawk, Pine and Rising Sun. Woodblock print. Kiwame seal: c. 1842. Oban tata-e diptych (kakemono-e). 28 1/2 x 9 3/4. Publisher: Yezabiya Tatsukure. Publisher's seal trimmed. Excellent condition and color. Kakemono-e prints of this subject appear rarely. $1,500.
For another example, see Hiroshige.
The image of a hawk on a pine branch, with the New Year sun rising behind, was a traditional subject of the Kano school. Hiroshige designed several of these kakemono-e which were inexpensive substitutes for the paintings that usually hung in the tokonoma, the alcove that is found in traditional Japanese houses.
Actor and Courtesan Prints
Bando Goncoro and another Actor with Bamboo. c. 1853. Vertical oban: 14 1/8 x 9 3/4 (sheet 14 5/8 x 10.) Excellent color and condition. $175.
Danjuro Shikuro 1855. 14 3/8 x 9 3/4 (image and sheet). E. Paper losses in top left and right margins, 1 small hole beneath the hands holding the sword hilt.Exellent color$125.
Genji Monogatari. Chapter 24. 1852. 9 1/4 x 13 1/2 (9 7/8 x 14 5/16). Center fold, some soiling in top margin; good color and impression. A charming image of a bijn and her two children conversing with Prince Genji. $175.
Kabuki Scene. 1860. Oban diptych (14 1/2 x 20). Three stains in lower margins, 3 paper losses in left-hand margin. $550.
Woche Shimokazu Reading a Scroll. 1853. Publisher: Tsujiokaya Bunsuke. 13 1/2 x 9 1/4 (image and sheet). Excellent color and condition. $250.
Series: Actors for the 53 Stations of the Tokaido.
Date: 1852.
Publisher: Tsujioka Bunsuke.
Size: vertical oban.
This is Kunisada's best series of actor bust portraits. Other images from the series are available upon request.
For images, click on Tokaido.
Asakasa, Sawai. Excellent color, good condition. $325.
Chiryu. Printed with gauffrage in the white part of the robe. Good color, impression and condition, apart from minor soiling, less pronounced than in the image. $350.
Fujikawa. Excellent color and condition. $4o0.
Futakawa Excellent color, impression and condition. $375.
Hodogaya. Excellent color, impression and condition. $450.
Ishibe.Excellent color, impression and condition. $450.
Ishiyakushi. Fine color. Fair condition -- two small stains in the top, small paper losses, 1 in top and 2 in bottom margins. $225.
Kawasaki Fine color. Fair condition -- wormage and paper losses in the arm, 3 losses in the sky. $225.
Kusatsu. Very good color, impression and condition. $375.
Kyoto. ood color, impression and condition. Some surface soiling. $325. Mishima. excellent color and impression. Slight soiling and creasing. $325.
Nihombashi. Fair color, poor condition: paper losses, soiling. $150.
Numazu. Excellent color and condition. $450.
Odawara Good color. and condition.$350. Another impression with uneven inking in the sky and a small tear in the lower margin, $300.
Okazaki. Good color and condition. Some printing folds in the face and arms. $300.
Sakanoshita Good color and condition. $325.
Seki. Good color and condition. Slight soiling in the neck. $375.
Shinagawa. Good color. Several small holes in top sky and margin, paper loss on lower margin, printing folds. $225.
Shono. Good color. Several small holes in top margin, paper loss on lower maring, printing folds. $275.
Totsuka. Good color. Image loss to the left of the man's shoulder, one ink stain in the sky, 1 pinhole in the arm,slight soiling. One pinhole in the arm. $275
Tsuchiyama. Good color and condition. Slight soiling. $400.
Yokkachi Good color and condition. $350.
Yoshiwara. Excellent color and condition. $400.
Click on the title for an image.
Kagamijishi - Lion Dance. c. 1941. Oban: 15 3/4 x 10 5/8 (sheet 17 5/8 x 11 5/8). Signature: Sadanobu. Seal: Ukiyoe-Dakumi. Publisher: Uchida with his copyright. Printed on the full sheet of paper countermarked Uchida. $350.
Hiroshi Yoshida. 1876-1950.
Click on the titles for images.
Evening After Rain. 1926. Yoshida 39. Oban: 9 3/4 x 14 3/4 (sheet 10 1/2 x 15 1/2). First Inland Sea series. Signatures: Yoshida in brush, artist's seal Hiroshi. Hiroshi Yoshida in pencil on the lower margin. Publisher: Jizuri seal (self printed). Signed and titled in pencil. $2,500.
Hiroshi Yoshida's watercolors developed throughout his career. The signatures also changed. Earlier signatures tend to be in cursive script, while later ones are often printed in block letters.
Kawaba. c. 1920. Watercolor on paper. 9 7/8 x 18 1/8. Signed and titled lower left. A fine example of an early watercolor. $3,000.
Toshi Yoshida. 1911-1995. Click on the title for an image.
Urayasu. 1951. Oban: 15 5/8 x 10 1/2. Signed in pencil; stamped title. Urayasu is in Chiba prefecture. Fine color and condition. $650.
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