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:"Figure Study of a Beautiful Entertainer". Signed by: Yeizan (Kikugawa) 1800-1829. Publisher's Seal: Arita-ya. It is commented that Yeizan's pictures of courtesans are not so good. They tend to become exaggerated, and over-loaded with design, and are the work of an artist who became a poor copyist, without much of his originality, one print being very like another. He took to copying Kunidada's full-length figures. His earlier designs are boldly drawn, graceful, and his colors are good. This picture looks like a "shinzo", ranked next to an "oiran". This is a "Kakemono".
Title:" Full Length Portrait of a Young Man". Signed by: Yoshitoshi (1837-1892). Date: about 1975. Publisher's Seal: Yamajin. The principle underlying men's dress is the same as that of the women. The colors are generally low in tone, and decoration- if any- are limited. He is wearing a man's "hakama" (loose trousers). The flowers in his hands might suggest that he is on his way to decorate them on the graves of his ancestors. (Significance of paying respect of the dead.)
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:" 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: "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.
Title:" An Entertainer" Signed. Publisher's Seal: only "Kiwame" seal. Sencho is a pupil of Yeisen; he designed studies of "oirans" closely after the style of his master. This is one of is figure studies. Quite a disorderly dressed woman.