Title: "An October Tea Ceremony" or "Yoshiwara, Events of the Year, 10th Month". Publisher's Seal: Wakasaya "Kiwame" Seal. "Oiran" in the foreground. The drawing in the circle illustrates the event of that month. A tea ceremony.
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:" 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:"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: "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: "Woman on Clogs". Kunisada signed his prints Toyokuni after 1844. Kunisada's prints after 1844 are considered crude and harsh. This picture illustrates a woman on high rain-time clogs. The plum blossoms indicate late winter. A fancy bamboo fence stretches across print.
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:"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: "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.)
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: "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:"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.
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.
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.
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.
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:"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:" 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:" Prosperity of the Capitol". Signed by : Yoshikazu (1830-1865). Date: Hare 5th month. Publisher's Seal: Sanok. Elderly woman strolling with fan in hand. Behind- a trader with his goods on his back. Background- stores.
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: "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: "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: "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:"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.