Late 19th Century Six Japanese Ukiyo-E Woodblock Prints - Set of 6

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A fine collection of six Japanese prints ranging in date from ca. 1850-1880. All six prints are in excellent condition.

… Read more A fine collection of six Japanese prints ranging in date from ca. 1850-1880. All six prints are in excellent condition.

The first print (Primary listed above) Large print (oban) depicting a woman upon a ladder in the snow with sword drawn. There is a drum (taiko) behind her that implies that this may be a drum tower she is climbing. The cartouche gives the name of the character depicted as Ojo Kichisa. This is from a Kubuki play, and the actor playing the part of Ojo Kichisa may be Iwa Kumesaburo III.

ARTIST: Utagawa Kunisada (Kuniyoshi II), (1823 - 1880). The large print was made sometime in the 1870s according to the censor and printer's seals.


The second Japanese print of the collection is a large print of a geisha, or artisan, with a street scene in the background. The red cartouche in the upper right designates this as one of a series called: "Geisha of Famous Districts of Tokyo" (Japanese: Tokyo Meisho Geisha Go). The smaller yellow square to the left of the cartouche lists the house and professional family to which this geisha belongs and lists her name as "Okasen".

ARTIST: This print is signed Yoshitora. This is Kinchoro Yoshitora (active 1830s-1880s) of the Utagawa school. Judging from the censor and printer's seals it is likely that this print was made in the 1870s toward the end of Yoshitora's career.


The third Japanese print of the collection is a large print of a kabuki actor from a scene in a play, standing in a doorway holding a pipe in one hand and what looks like a helmet in the other. From his dress and lack of swords he does not appear to be a member of the warrior class himself. There is a cartouche on the left that gives a name.

ARTIST: Utagawa Kunisada (Kuniyoshi II), (1823 - 1880). This work is probably from the 1860s or 70s.


The fourth Japanese print in the collection is a large print depicting a warrior in battle. The name cartouche on the lower left reads: "Minamoto no Kurotsune". The figure is depicted wearing rich court robes and the hat of an imperial court official. The name, Minamoto, and the clothing imply that the scene may be drawn from the Tale of the Heike (Heike Monogatari) which tells the story of the defeat of the powerful and aristocratic Taira clan at the hands of the equally aristocratic but not nearly as powerful Minamoto clan. It is the events described in this great tale that ushered in the first shogunate rule in Japan in 1185. This scene could also be from a Kabuki play based on this famous historical tale.

ARTIST: Utagawa Kunisada (Kuniyoshi II) (1823 - 1880). A work between 1850 - 1880.


The fifth Japanese print in the collection and it is a large print depicting a group of 5 courtesans with a couple of maids in bright mineral colors. The series title carouche in red on the top right reads in part: "Beauties of the Yoshiwara..." Inside the circle to the left of the title of the cartouche it states that these ladies are from a certain house called "Oshiro" in the Yoshiwara and all reside on the 2nd floor of this establishment. As all of them hav professional names that begin with the word "Yuki", meaning "snow" they are called the "Yukis" of the 2nd floor.

ARTIST: Utagawa Yoshi'iku, signed Ikkeisai Yoshi'iku (1833 - 1904). Judging from the use of the bright mineral colors and the censor and printer's seals this work can be dated to between 1860 - 1868.


The sixth Japanese print in the collection is a large print of a young woman playing a shamisen with a bow. Judging from the presence of a front tied obi and multiple hair pins this woman is a courtesan rather than a geisha, or performing artist. Here she sits in front of an open door through which we can see blooming plum or cherry. There is no visible explanatory cartouche on this print.

ARTIST: Utagawa Kunisato (died 1858) - school of Kunisada. Judging from censor and printer's seals this print was created and published sometime between 1854 - 1857. See less