Title: "One of the Famous Loyal League of 47 Ronin". Explanation: Artist is leading pupil of Toyokuni. Of the numerous dramas performed in the marionette theatre, the most popular as a subject for color printing was the "Chushingura." This warrior is one of the 47 named Maeda. The night of their charge was on a very snowy day, as can be seen in the print, too.
Title:"Man With Tobacco Pipe and Case". Signed. Date: Early form. Publisher's Seal: Yamoto Heikichi (Yama- Kyu). Toyokuni's output of prints (actors and figure studies) was enormous, and varies much in quality. This man has a costume quite different from the "Samurai." It is just an everyday wear.
Title:"Top of Atago Hill Sheba" from "Famous Sites of the Eastern Capital". Signed by Hiroshige (1797- 1858). Publisher's Seal: Sanoki. This is one from a series issued continuously form 1833 to 1843. First editions have the stamp of the publisher, Kikakudo; later prints, a stamp of Sanki. Shis is the later. Both represents the same firm. All are "Oban Yokoye" (10" x15" horizontal in size). A huge gate, called "mon" stands erect at top of hill. There are many steps leading up to this hill form fown. Three can be seen ascending.
Title: "Cherry Blossoms of the Sumida River". Explanation: Kuniyoshi also used manes Ichiyusai and Cho-o-ro. Right: Woman with toy instrument, after a day of viewing flowers. Medium: Woman and child calling back to husband. Left: Husband with umbrella and tobacco pipe in hand.
Title:"Woman Reading a Rollscript" Signed. Publisher's Seal: Wakosa-ya. In general, Kuniyoshi's figure studies are strongly drawn, often with a humouous tough. The upper section with its characters explain about a famous writing, with the writer's signature with two red seals. Japanese characters are read from right to left, up and down as this woman is supposed to be doing. The writings are centered on sentimental love sayings.
Title:"Figure Study of a Courtesan" Signed by: Yeisan (Keisai) 1789-1851. Date: 1830-1851. Yeisan is the pupil of Kano Hakukeisai, the last half of whose name he took for his first, Keisai. He did both landscapes and figure studies. This is the figure of a courtesan, probably an "oiran" or a "geisha". Inset is a "Tanzaku"-a strip of paper for writing poems on. His figure studies are an output of his later years.
Title:" Station Kamoyama" from "53 Stations on the Tokaido" This is Plate #47. Signed by Hiroshige (1797-1858). Publisher's Seal: Tsutaya-Kichizo. A celebrated snow scene of Hiroshige's. Travellers ascending a steep hillside, to the entrance to the castle of Kameyama. Considered the second masterpiece of the series.
Title:" Rain at Night" Signed by Hiroshige (Ichiryusai) 1797-1858 A "surimono 7" x 8". They aer best indicatd b saying that they are nothing so much as our Chirstmas cards.
Title:"Stop at Okazaki". Signed by: Yeisen (Keisai). Publisher's Seal: Tsutaya Kichizo. Major point being figure study of a "geisha". Background is the site of Okazaki.