Title:"Le Reviel" Brown in Romantic. A woman awakens in her bed as her chamber maid opens her curtains for her. Blue in border. Title and Artist name appear in center bottom of print. 2 oval prints in oval frames which are connected by an inverted "V' joined by a wooden bow at the top.
Title: "Pilgrimage in the Snow". Explanation: Kuniyoshi did some good landscapes, many deserving to rank with those of Hiroshige. His figure studies are strongly drawn, often with a humorous touch. His colors are rarely the crude and hideous colors, while he frequently made a very effevtive use of masses of black, as this picture. The man has an umbrella and gourd in hand
Title:"Leisure at Tea Time" Signed. Engraver's Seal: Muneoka. In a Japanese home two elderly women sit by a coal-brazier. Woman in background has long tobacco pipe in hand. The other, with a volume of books. Upper section: Poem chanting about the brave deeds of young samurais.
Title: "The Gate Keeper, Sakuramaru". Signed By: (Toyokuni) Kunisada 1785-1865. Publisher's seal: Yebisu-ya with "Kiwame" Seal. Descriptive Title: Sakuramaro- name of Gate Keeper. Kunisada's work signed with his later name of Toyokuni are not very good. In his later years he did no more than the first outline drawing of a print, leaving his pupils to carry out the color scheme, and exercising no supervision of his printers. There are inumerable actor-portraits of his.
Title: "Father Time with Five Cupids", an angle flying in the clouds while three cupids are taking documents from the angle and two cupids holding onto documents
Title: "Entertainer and Her Attendants" or "Oiran and Kamuro". Explanation: Kuniyasu did rather uncommonwork. The Oiran dresses in splendor and his coiffure is of an elaborate nature. They are distinguished by wearing the sash (obi) tied in front. The "kamura" are children bought by the yaro-ya keepers at the age of 5 or 6. The man is holding a paper folding lantern.
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: "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.
This is one of his later works. This is a 3 sheet upright print called (Ta teye-Sammai-tsuzuki). Uyeno Park is still a famous park for its cherry blossoms in present day Japan. Here, the customers (of elderly women) of the 19th century can be seen. In the background is the famous Shiruizu Temple.
Title: "Morning of the Theatrical Opening at Sakai, Yedo". Explanation: People rushing to the gates for the opening with lunch boxes and floor mat covering. This woman is disorderly dressed.
Title: "A Happy Event". Explanation: The woman is presenting white rice cakes on a tray with chopsticks. Upper section: Picture of a bend on an island.
Title:" Women at Leisure" Signed. Publisher's Seal: Muneoka (Engraver's seal). Woman sitting down--has musical insturment "tsutsumi" on her shoulders. Woman standing--has just put her black lacquered clogs and is about to move away. Upper section-- characters on fan explain title of song the singing woman is chanting. Left drawing and poetry explain contents.
Title:"At Kanaya Station" (Plate #25) from "53 Stations on the Tokaido" Signed by Hokusai I-itsu (hitsu) 1760-1849 Publisher's Seal: Takenouchi. Of the numerous series of landscape scenes designed by Hiroshige, none are better known, or have brought him wider fame, than his celebrated early set of view (all oblon) on the two captials-- Yedo (now Tokyo) and Kyoto (old capital). A distance of 323 miles. This is Plate #25. At Kanaya. Beyond the wide sandy flats of the river, across which a "Daimyos" cortege is being carried, rises a jumble of fooothills, in a crevice of which nestles a village. In the background, a high range of curioulsy hump-shaped mountains, printed in graded black from color blocks only.
Title:"At Yokaichi" from the series:"53 Stations of the Takaido". This is Plate No. 44 at Yokkaichi- San Cho kawa. These are a set of 55 (including prints of starting off point at Yedo and arriving at Kyoto). The series was completed in Jan. 1834. A high wind is blowing from right across the marsh. To left, a peasant, cloaked, on a trestle bridge; another races along the causeway to catch his hat which has blown off. In center, a willow tree bending to the wind; left, roofs of cottages, and masts of boats. The bow of a punt in the foreground.
This station is called Yoshida. A bridge is over the Toyo River: The print is a variation. The two artists Hiroshige and Toyokuni are in collaboration for this print. Upper part consists of a Tokaido view by Hiroshige, and the lower part, large figures are illustrative of legends by Kunisada, over the signature of Toyokuni. Dorothy H. Riddle Japanese Woodblock Print Collection
Title:"The Event of the Year, 1875, Meija Era". Triptych. Signed by: Yoshitoshi (1839-1892). Publisher's Seal: Okura. Yoshitoshi is a pupil of Kuniyoshi, was the last artist of the old school. His life embraced the period which saw the extinction of Ukiyoye, and the establishment of the new. This picture is more related to the new. It can be seen by the costumes of the women. These were worn up til the end of Meiji Era, and could be seen worn by the Empress on special occasions, even today. This it the Empress and her court in 1875, leaving the palace grounds for a ceremonial rite. It happens to be raining a little.
Title:"Self Portrait of Wm. Hogarth " (Engrave from the original painting by Hogarth). This engraving was done from a painting by Wm. Hogarth. Depicts Hogarth, his dog, three books, a painting pallet on which is enscribed,"the Line of Beauty, and Grace."
Title:" A Young Samuri- The Flower of Manhood" Signed. Engraver's seal: Wantanabe. Acted by Kikuhachiro Onoye. Close fan in right hand. Head gear in left hand. He is wearing a "Kamishimo" consisting of a waist-coat like affair.
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: "Woman Before the Koto". Publisher's Seal: Mankyu (?). Woman about to sit down before her musical instrument- the harp (koto). The colors of her dressing indicate her to be an elderly woman. Upper section: Famous poem from one of the "Karuto" playing cards. The drawing inserted in the fan is from the cards.
Title:" Beauty of the Times". Signed by: Toyokuni (Utagawa) 1769--1825. Date: 12th month. Woman kneeling before a table spread with food ready to be served. The artist is one of the best known artists of "Ukiyoye." He was the son of a wood carver.
Title:"The Flower Mirror". Signed by: Yoshitora (Utagawa). Publisher's Seal: Sen-ichi. An elderly woman viewing the morning glories in bloom. The poem on the left extoll the beauty of the flowers. Yoshitora is one of the most capable of Kuniyoshi's pupils.
Nathanial Currier (1813-1888) James Merritt Ives ( -1895). Title: "The Narrows of New York Bay". "Currier & Ives" became a partnership in 1857 (News illustrators - New York, NY). Also illustrated early American historial events. Currier was an apprenticed lithographer; Ives a starving artist-bookkeeper. Became successful in their time: Documented fires, deaths, scenes of marriage and courtship. (appealed to sentimentality)
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:"An Actor as a Warrior" Signed. Publisher's Seal: Tsuta-ya. Kunisada is chief pupil of Toyokuni. His production fo actor prints are considered even greater than his master. There is no particular actor's name printed on this sheet. One of the warriors with a "hachimaki" (band) around his head. Sword in right hand. In fighting, the right shoulder outer garment is stripped, so the difference in color can be noted.
from "Women's Manners and Customs" Signed by: Gessho (Kaisuke) Red Seal below name. Women enjoying the evening cool at Shijo Bridge in Kyoto. Woman in foreground is burning an incense stick called "Senko." From this comes a word "Senkodai" which means time change for "geisha girl". Two paper gardent lanterns are lighted illustrating an early evening hour.
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: "The Warrior Hyoe". Publisher's Seal: (Engravers seal only). Although this work is signed Toyokuni, it can be distinguished as Kunisada's because the signature is enclosed in a cartouche, a device never employed by the great master Toyokuni (the red seal in the upper left corner.)
Title:"The Event of the Year, 1875, Meija Era". Triptych. Signed by: Yoshitoshi (1839-1892). Publisher's Seal: Okura. Yoshitoshi is a pupil of Kuniyoshi, was the last artist of the old school. His life embraced the period which saw the extinction of Ukiyoye, and the establishment of the new. This picture is more related to the new. It can be seen by the costumes of the women. These were worn up til the end of Meiji Era, and could be seen worn by the Empress on special occasions, even today. This it the Empress and her court in 1875, leaving the palace grounds for a ceremonial rite. It happens to be raining a little.
Title:"The Event of the Year, 1875, Meija Era". Triptych. Signed by: Yoshitoshi (1839-1892). Publisher's Seal: Okura. Yoshitoshi is a pupil of Kuniyoshi, was the last artist of the old school. His life embraced the period which saw the extinction of Ukiyoye, and the establishment of the new. This picture is more related to the new. It can be seen by the costumes of the women. These were worn up til the end of Meiji Era, and could be seen worn by the Empress on special occasions, even today. This it the Empress and her court in 1875, leaving the palace grounds for a ceremonial rite. It happens to be raining a little.