Torii Kiyonaga, Japanese, 1752-1815, "Two Women with Young Servant". This woodblock print by Torii Kiyonaga measures 9 1/2 x 7 inches. It is signed, sealed and titled within the image. Kiyonaga was one of the great masters of the full-color print depicting courtesans, beautiful women and Kabuki actors. Head of the Torii school, he excelled with "bijin-ga" (beautiful women) prints and these were considered to be his best works.
Leonard Baskin, American, 1922-2000, "Portrait of a Man," Wood engraving, image size 20 x 13 1/2 inches, c. 1950s. This is a very rare unsigned proof, which does not appear in the Fern & O'Sullivan catalog. We believe this portrait to be of 17th century French artist Jacques Callot, whom Baskin greatly admired and included in his series of etchings, "Portraits of Ten Artists" in 1964.
Original Japanese woodblock print by 20th century master Jun'Ichiro Sekino (1914-1988) circa 1950s. Unusual column format (roughly 28" by 10" paper, 21" by 5" image), extremely unusual subject, signed "J. Sekino" in pencil lower right and numbered 67/100 lower left. In its original frame, not examined out of the frame but apparently in excellent condition. Sekino's woodblocks are found in the collections of most important art museums, including MOMA and the Art Institute of Chicago.
These are three images of a very rarely seen Maki series,the Drop series.If any friend can send me images of Drop 1, 4, or 5, I would appreciate it.
Around 1960 Haku Maki probably did the Ox as a woodblock print. He was then a young artist in Tokyo. He may have done some Ox images before James Michener did his now wellknown book, but probably not many: 510 were used in the book The Modern Japanese Print". The prints of Japanese artists included in the book are large-ish, it is not embossed...
Original Japanese woodblock triptych by Utagawa Kunisada (Toyokuni III) of a Kabuki subject, circa 1852. This work is signed Toyokuni ga and depicts the actors Iwai Kumesaburo III, Ichikawa Saruzo I, and Ichikawa Danjuro VIII in the play: Jiraiya Goketsu Monogatari. 3 oban panels, in beautiful color and condition, never framed.
Original Japanese woodblock print by Utagawa Hiroshige (Hiroshige II), from his series "One Hundred Famous Views in the Various Provinces (Shokoku meisho hyakkei)", circa 1860. This vertical oban is signed Hiroshige ga. Published by Uoya Eikishi. Beautiful color and condition. Never framed. A rare print from a series partially based on Hiroshige I's series (Famous Views of the 60-odd Provinces). This particular view by his protege is not based on a Hiroshige I work.
TWO JAPANESE WOODBLOCK PRINTS COMMEMORATING FREDERICK STARR & NOSATSU.
Frederick Starr was a professor of anthropology at Chicago University who first visited Japan in 1904 and made many subsequent visits. He wrote many papers on Japanese subjects but is probably best known in Japan for his interest in pilgrimage, he dressed in traditional pilgrim’s clothing and performed the Shikoku pilgrimage in 1917 and 1921...
Scene from a Noh play from the series “100 Noh Plays” published 1922-1926
Signed Kogyo with artists’s seal on L.L., very good impression and color, two light marks on lower left, light ripple in upper right corner, large red collector’s seal on verso
Oban tate-e: 10 x 14 ¾ in.
Village scene, possibly Nara, issued ca. 1950s, non-limited edition.
Pencil signed in the image beneath red artist’s seal, very good impression and color, untrimmed, full margins, light toning in margins, white tape residue on back of margins, printer’s seal on back of margin.
Overall size: 11 ½ x 17 in., image size: 10 ½ x 15 1/8 in.
Kyoto Storefront, undated, purchased from a Kyoto gallery in 1978
Signed and titled in pencil on lower margin, very good color and condition
Paper size: 10 x 13 in.; image size: 7 ¾ x 10 ½ in.
Sake Shop, undated, purchased from a Kyoto gallery in 1978
Signed and titled in pencil on lower margin, very good color and condition
Paper size: 10 x 13 in.; image size: 7 ¾ x 10 ½ in.
Farm scene, issued ca. 1960s
Printed from a single block on thick paper. The block is inked in different colors with shading effects to imitate a stencil print.
Overall size: 9 x 12 in.
Album leaf with sleeve illustration for kimono, produced ca. 1930
Very good impression and color, thick paper, very minor soiling on margins, remains of backing tape
Overall size: 10 x 14 in.
Scene from a Noh play from the series “100 Noh Plays” published 1922-1926
Signed Kogyo with publisher’s seal on lower left, very good impression and color, very light soiling on upper edge, minor wear
Oban tate-e: 10 x 14 ¾ in.
Portrait of a Noh actor from the series “100 Noh Plays” published 1922-1926
Fan-shaped publisher’s seal on lower left, no signature, fine impression and color, visible woodgrain, very slight diagonal crease from top center to lower right edge, good condition
Oban tate-e: 10 x 14 ¾ in.
Scene from a Noh play, published 1922-1926
Signed Kogyo on lower left, fan-shaped publisher’s seal, fine impression and color, visible woodgrain, lacquer printing on lower stage platform, light mica dust on edge of mountains, very slight wrinkles to lower corners, overall good condition
Oban tate-e: 10 x 14 ¾ in.
A “modern” print collage design depicting fragments of ancient temple roof tiles; a stylized Shinto shrine compound all overlaying a background scene of samurai warriors, issued ca. 1930s
Excellent impression and color including bronze powder printing—clouds and warrior highlights, very slight creasing to upper corners, not backed.
Overall size: 11 3/8 x 14 in.