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."