Sanders of Oxford - Japanese Woodblock Prints

Bijin-ga 

1. Beauties with Umbrella by the Shrine Gate 

Woodblock print (nishiki-e) 

Shoda Koho (1871-1946) 

c. 1910 

Tanzaku [3 x 13.75 inches] 

Vertical, narrow prints are a by-product of 

traditional Japanese architecture, which offered 

very few solid wall surfaces. Many times, the only 

solid surface available for the hanging of pictures, 

were the structural posts which held up the roof. 

"Pillar prints" became a genre unto themselves 

and were referred to in Japanese as hashira-e or 

tanzaku. 

[29620] 

£140 

2. Beauty in a Tea Booth 

Woodblock print 

Shoda Koho (1871-1946) 

c. 1910 


The design of pleasing compositions within such a 

constrained format is a serious challenge for the 

artist. Yoshimoto Gesso and Shoda Koho, the 

artists who designed the prints in this series, have 

certainly risen to this challenge and produced a 

wide variety of wonderful designs. 

This series was listed simply as 1 line item in the 

Hasegawa / Nishinomiya catalogue. The 

implication is that there were 96 separate images 

available. They were sold as sets of 12 prints. 

[29612] 

£140

Kabuki 

Kacho-e 

3. Kabuki Actor with a sword in a Boat 


Shunkosai Hokuei 

c. 1835 

Ôban tate-e [sheet 14 x 9 1/2 inches] 

Shunbaisai Hokuei (active (824-1837) also known 

as Shunko- III, was a designer of ukiyo-e style 

Japanese woodblock prints in Osaka. He was a 

student of Shunko-sai Hokushu-. Hokuei’s prints 

most often portray the kabuki actor Arashi Rikan II. 

[29566] 

£200 

4. Blue Bird on an Autumn Branch 

Woodblock 

Gyosui Kawanabe (1868-1935) 

c. 1950 

Image and sheet 243 x 124 mm 

Gyosui was one of the few famous female artists 

before the Shin Hanga movement. She taught 

Nihon-ga, Japanese traditional painting, at Joshibi 

University of Arts and Crafts. She was the 

daughter of Kyosai Kawanabe. 

[29633] 

£150

5. Robber Fly on Snake Gourd 


Gyosui Kawanabe (1868-1935) 

c. 1950 


Gyosui was one of the few famous female artists 

before the Shin Hanga movement. She taught 

Nihon-ga, Japanese traditional painting, at Joshibi 

University of Arts and Crafts. She was the 

daughter of Kyosai Kawanabe. 

[29632] 

£150 

6. [Blue Bird and Magnolia] 


Ohara Koson [Shoson; Hoson] (1877-1945) 

c. 1930 

tanzaku [7.5 x 14 inches] 

Signature: Koson. 

Seal: Artist's seal ('Koson') 

Ohara Koson [Shoson; Hoson] (1877-1945) was 

born in Kanazawa in Ishikawa Prefecture in the 

North of Japan with the given name Ohara Matao. 

He had studied painting as a student of Suzuki 

Koson, whose name he adopted as his artist go. 

During his career he changed his name to Shoson 

and Hoson. He is best known for kacho-e or 

wildlife prints and they were exported in large 

numbers to the United States. 

References: Amy Reigle Newland, Jan Perree, and Robert Schaap, 

‘Crows, Cranes, and Camellias’ (Leiden: Hotei Publishing, 2001). Hiraki 

Ukiyo-e Museum,‘Ohara Koson: Artist of Kacho-ga, Prints of Birds and 

Flowers’ (Hiraki Ukiyo-e Museum,1998). 

[29621] 

£550

7. Rabbit 


Ogata Gekko (1859-1920) 

c. 1910 

Shikishiban 243 x 250 mm 

Siganture: Gekko with artist’s seal 

Comments: Early impression. 

Considered an early modernist by some critics, 

Ogata Gekkô, together with Tsukioka Yoshitoshi 

(1839-92) and Shibata Zeshin (1807-91), was one 

of the most important artists of the Meiji (1868- 

1912) and Taïshô (1912-26) periods. Like 

Yoshitoshi and Zesshin, he was known for a style 

of printmaking that was highly innovative in both 

iconographical and technical terms.Born in 1859, 

in the district of Kyôbashi in Edo (modern Tôkyô), 

he was later adopted by the Ogata family. As a 

self-taught painter, unaffiliated to any ukiyo-e 

studio from which he could claim appellative 

allegiance, he retained their name as an artistic 

nom-de-plume. This lack of formal training, 

particularly within the rigid hierarchy of an atelier, 

seems to have given his work a freshness and 

originality lacking in many of his contemporaries' 

oeuvres. Free from the constriction of following 

the codified visuality of one school, his woodblocks 

are redolent of a variety of influences, including 

Kano Tan'yû (1602-74), Tani Bunchô (1763-1840), 

Maruyama Ôkyo (1733-95) and Kikuchi Yôsaï 

(1788-1878). Ôkyo, an artistic innovator fascinated 

by perspective and the presentation of reality 

within European art, seems to have been 

particularly influential figure- Gekko's work clearly 

demonstrating a similarly powerful interest in the 

techniques of Occidental art, the adoption of which 

facilitated his desire to extend the boundaries of 

traditional Japanese art. In formal terms, Gekko's 

work is characterised by his attempts to emulate 

painterly aesthetics within a woodblock idiom. This 

is particularly evident in the finer details of his 

images, which closely resemble the feathery brush 

strokes of his numerous paintings. While Gekko's 

subject matter varied considerably - ranging from 

kacho-e (bird and flower prints) to wildlyimaginative 

mythological studies - his ability to 

convey narrative without compromising 

compositional impact seems to have been derived 

from his journalistic work for papers such as the 

Asahi Shinbun. In late nineteenth-century Japan, 

daily and weekly newspapers and journals were 

springing up in every urban centre and pictorial 

supplements were instrumental to their popularity. 

The 1894-5 Sino-Japanese conflict, for example, 

spawned a vast number of woodblock prints. Some 

artists, including Gekkô, actually accompanied 

troops in the field, making rapid sketches which 

could then be quickly worked up as spectacular 

scenes for the Japanese and, as the United States 

was part-financing the war, American public. An 

artist increasingly feted by the establishment, 

Gekkô exhibited his works not only within a 

number of prestigious Japanese exhibitions, but 

also as part of the national display at various world 

fairs, including Chicago (1893), Paris (1900) and 

London (1910). He also played an important role in 

the development of several artists' associations, in 

particular Nihon Bijutsu Kyôkaï, Nihon Seinen 

Kaïga Kyôkaï, the Academy of Japanese art, and 

Bunten. During the latter years of his career, his 

images also started entering the collections of the 

Imperial house and the Crown prince. 

[29638] 

£350

8. Crow and Cherry Blossoms 



n.d. c. 1910 

Seal: Artist’s seal Koson 

Publisher: Daikokuya. 





Koson. He is best known for his kacho-e or wildlife 

prints, of which his designs were produced in 

prolific numbers for a primarily Western market 

and range from images of haunting realism to 

humorous depictions of animals at play. 

Refrence: Newland, Amy R.; Jan Perrée & Robert Schaap, "Crows, 

cranes & camellias: The Natural World of Ohara Koson", Leiden: Hotei 

Publishing, 2001, ISBN 90-74822-38-x, - pg. 70. Pl.46. 

Condition: Excellent. Full sheet with margins 

[29508] 

£850 

9. Monkey in Persimmon Tree 



n.d. c. 1930 

Tanzaku [7.5 x 14 inches], 344 x 186 mm 

Signature: Koson 

Publisher: Kokkeido 





Koson. He is best known for his kacho-e or wildlife 

prints, of which his designs were produced in 

prolific numbers for a primarily Western market 

and range from images of haunting realism to 

humorous depictions of animals at play. 

Condition: Excellent. Full sheet with margins 

[29507] 

£1,200

10. Two Crows in flight next to snow-covered 

willow branches, an orange sky behind 



c. 1910’s 

tanzaku [7.5 x 14 inches] 

Signature: Koson 

Seal: Kokkeido 





Koson, whose name he adopted as his artist go. 

During his career he changed his name to Shoson 

and Hoson. He is best known for kacho-e or 

wildlife prints and they were exported in large 

numbers to the United States. 

11. Crow in the Snow 


Shoda Koho (1871-1946) 

c. 1910 


[29610] 

£120 

References: Amy Reigle Newland, Jan Perree, and Robert Schaap, 

‘Crows, Cranes, and Camellias’ (Leiden: Hotei Publishing, 2001). Hiraki 

Ukiyo-e Museum,‘Ohara Koson: Artist of Kacho-ga, Prints of Birds and 

Flowers’ (Hiraki Ukiyo-e Museum,1998), K5.14 

[29622] 

£650

12. [Frog in a pond] 


Shoda Koho (1871-1946) 

c. 1910 


[29613] 

£140 

13. Frog in the Rain 


Shoda Koho (1871-1946) 

c. 1910 


[29606] 

£140

14. Heron in the Rain 


Shoda Koho (1871-1946) 

c. 1910 


[29587] 

£140 

15. Red Fish and Blossoms 


Shoda Koho (1871-1946) 

c. 1910 


[29616] 

£140

16. [Rooster and Mt. Fuji] 


Shoda Koho (1871-1946) 

c. 1910 


[29619] 

£140 

17. [Bird and Red Camellia] 


Yoshimoto Gesso (1881-1936) 

c. 1910 


[29611] 

£140

18. Dragon in the Mist 



c. 1910 


[29585] 

£140 

19. [Owl] 



c. 1910 


[29618] 

£140

Landscape and Famous Places 

20. Fujikawa 


Andô Hiroshige (1797-1858) 

Late 1830’s 

Chban 280 mm x 200 mm 

Series: Tokaido Gojo Santsugi: The Fifty-Three 

Stations of the Tokaido 

Publisher: Sanoki 

Siganture: Hiroshige ga 

There is a comic poem (kyoka) which is why this 

series is known as the Kyoka Tokaid and 

otherwise known as the Sanoki Tokaido after the 

publisher’s name. 

21. Hamamatsu 



c. 1850 

Chuban 280 mm x 200 mm 

Series: Tokaido Gojusan Tsugi: The Fifty-Three 

Stations of the Tokaido 

Publisher: Tsutaya Kichizo 

Signature: Hiroshige ga 

Condition: Excellent 

[29630] 

£350 

Condition: Minor printing faults, otherwise 

excellent. 

[29629] 

£350

22. Minakuchi 



c. 1852 (Kaei 5) 

Chuban tateye 280 mm x 200 mm 

Series: The Fifty-Three Stations of the Tokaido 

Publisher: Muraichi 

Signature: Hiroshige ga 

Condition: Margins trimmed, minor faults 

[29631] 

£350 

23. Mokubo Temple and Vegetable Field by the 

Uchi River 



1857 

Ôban tate-e [13 1/4 x 8 7/8 inches] 

Series: Meisho Yedo Hiakkei: One Hundred 

Famous Views of Edo 

Publisher: Uoya Eikichi 

Condition: Album backing. 

[29625] 

£900

24. Boats and Cherry Blossoms 


Shoda Koho (1871-1946) 

c. 1910 


[29608] 

£140 

25. Sailing in the Springtime 


Shoda Koho (1871-1946) 

c. 1910 


[29617] 

£140

26. Walking Lady and Full Moon 


Shoda Koho (1871-1946) 

c. 1910 


[29615] 

£140 

27. [Wave] 


Shoda Koho (1871-1946) 

c. 1910 


[29584] 

£140

28. Peddler in the Snowy Night 


Takahashi Hiroaki (Shotei) 1871-1944 

Published by S. Watanabe Color Print Co. c. 1930 

Image 243 x 174 mm, Sheet 250 x 180 mm 

Signature: Shotei 

Seal: Artist's seal (Hiroaki). 

Publisher: Watanabe 

Condtion: Excellent. 

[29639] 

£400 

29. Cooling down at Ryogoku Bridge 


Utagawa School 

c. 1860 


[29636] 

£300

30. Imado-bashi Matsuchi-yama: Imado Bridge 

and Matsuchi Hill 


Utagawa Shigenobu Hiroshige II (1826-1869) 

1862 

Ôban tate-e single sheet [24.5 x 36.4 cm] 

Signature: Hiroshige-ga 

Series: To-to sanju-rokkei: Thirty Six Views of the 

Eastern Capital 

Publisher: Ai-To 

Condition: Some light creasing . 

[29623] 

£800 

31. Kakegawa 



1865 (Ox - Keio- 1), 10th month 


Signature: Rissho- ga 

Series: To-kaido- goju-san eki Fifty-three Stations 

of the To-kaido 

Publisher: Maruya Tetsujiro 

The series dates from the end of Hiroshige II's 

career, when he was about thirty-nine years old. At 

this point, he had just started using the name 

Rissho-, and the prints in this series are signed 

'Rissho-'. 

[29634] 

£120

32. Tajima Taka no hama: Taka Beach, Tajima 

Province 



1859/11 


Signature: Hiroshige-ga 

Series: Shokoku meisho hyakkei: One hundred 

Views of Famous Places in the Provinces 

Publisher: Uoya Eikichi 

Condition: Album backing, otherwise excellent. 

[29624] 

£1,450 

33. Cherry Blossom on a Spring Night 



c. 1910 


[29614] 

£140

34. Pine Trees on a Beach 



c. 1910 


[29586] 

£120 

35. Sailing Under Full Moon 



c. 1910 


[29607] 

£140

Mythology 

37. A Ghost with a Sword 


Uemura Shoen, 1875-1949 

c. 1922-26 

Image 383 x 265 mm 

36. Winter View of Mt. Fuji 



c. 1910 


[29609] 

£140 

Series: Supplements of "The Complete Works of 

Chikamatsu Manzaemon" 

Signature: Shoen 

Comments: Gold mica highlights; hand applied 

gofun 

From a series of 18 prints by different artists 

illustrating the works of the famous playwright 

Chikamatsu Manzaemon.Yamagishi Kazue carved 

the blocks and Nishimura Kumakichi printed them. 

[29637] 

£400

Samurai 

Sumo 

38. Yazama Jûtarô Fujiwara no Mitsuok: The 

Syllable Me from the series Seichû gishi 

meimeiden: Biographies of the Faithful 

Samurai: 


Utagawa Yoshitora 

1866 (Keiô 2), 5th month 

Oban tate-e single sheet [9.5 x 14 inches] 

Signature: Kinchôrô Yoshitora ga 

Publisher: Shimizuya Naojirô 

Condition: Inclusion in centre in paper. 

Utagawa Yoshitora (c. 1840-1880) was a designer 

of ukiyo-e Japanese woodblock prints and an 

illustrator of books and newspapers active 

between 1850 and1880. He was born in Edo. He 

was an important pupil of Utagawa Kuniyoshi and 

excelled in prints of warriors, kabuki actors, 

beautiful women, and foreigners (Yokohama-e) 

[29559] 

£200 

39. Sumô Wrestler Ônaruto Nadaemon of Awa 

Province: Ashû Ônaruto Nadaemon 


Utagawa Kuniaki II 

1860 (Ansei 7/Man'en 1), intercalary 3rd month 

Vertical ôban; 37.5 x 25.6 cm (14 3/4 x 10 1/16 in.) 

Publisher: Yamaguchiya Tôbei (Kinkôdô) 

Signature: Kuniaki ga 

Utagawa Kuniaki II (1835–1888) was the older 

brother of Kuniaki II a student of Kunisada. He 

was known for his prints of sumo wrestlers, kabuki 

actors and hisYokohama prints. 

[29558] 

£200

Sanders of Oxford - Japanese Woodblock Prints

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