Show Us Your print

[Nihonto Chicken]

Thanks, Steve!  The "Red Fuji" print origin is just a minor curiosity of mine, it is just a nice, modern woodblock reprint of no real collector value.  OTOH the Rainstorm variation is old and may have some collector interest despite its iffy condition.  Will check your lead as well as some others to try to get a fix on it.

[1kinko]

Did you guys see that an original Great Wave print just sold for $2.76M?

[ROKUJURO]

Yes, as I had three of them.....

[Richard Thomas]

On 4/13/2020 at 12:29 AM, Guest said:

Good afternoon Everyone,

 

If there is such a thing as a Holy grail of Ukiyo - e subject imagery, then, currently, I would chose "The Last Stand of the Kusunoki at the Battle of Shijo Nawate".

 

I first came into contact with the event, a long time ago, on the cover of a paperback version of the late Professor Ivan Morris' masterwork: "Nobility of Failure: Tragic Heroes in the History of Japan".

 

So powerful are the images of the protagonists, framed amidst hail upon hail of arrows, in the crystal realisation that when all seems lost, and others have fled the Field, then one can chose to live a long life, Heroically in the moment, with no concern for the duration of that moment.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I am drawn to the thought, that this is precisely what our Healthcare professionals are currently doing in ICU, Worldwide.

 

Brian, if you think this inappropriate, please move it to a more appropriate area.

 

Best regards

 

Malcolm

Hi guys,

Was looking through this old post and not sure if Malcolm still visits but thought I’d share my recent purchase (after many years of keeping an eye out for it). This is the first triptych that Kuniyoshi designed on the subject of “the last stand of the Kusunoki at the battle of Shijo Nowate” referenced by Malcolm above.

 

this one was published in 1851 by Fujiokaya Keijiro.
(Robinson T271)

 

This one is my fav on the subject, it’s a little more macabre and desperate than the later triptychs above with Genshu carrying severed heads into the hail of arrows and the tattered battle standard carried by his brother Masamoto, and finally Kusunoki Masatsura, their leader, rests for a moment against a fallen horse while protecting himself with a dead warrior.. 

 

The pale blue bokashi on the faces of the hero’s implies their impending demise - this is often portrayed this way on ghosts. This is one of the few examples where it remains or has been applied to all the Kusunoki equally. 
 

On a side note, a question: I have seen reference examples of this print with the publishers cartouche left pale or a light green in various combinations, left and right sheet, left sheet only and right sheet only, I wonder if this was done to identify different print runs?

 

anyway hope you enjoy this wonderful print

cheers Rich

 

[Bugyotsuji]

Yes, Malcolm still lurks. 
 

(Thankfully)

 

Loving your triptych.

[Baka Gaijin]

Hi Rich and Piers

 

As the Dear Old Bean states, I Lurk, and sometimes make a comment, usually when it is inappropriate.

 

I just changed my Profile name to Baka Gaijin during the Lockdown, as I felt it more accurate a sobriquet.

 

Rich, you have a wonderful example of the Last Stand.

 

However, as Piers would probably agree, of absolutely no merit or value, and would best be sent, at your expense, to either himself or myself, where it could be appreciated appropriately.......

 

Tee Hee moment here, before the forces of International Internet Wokery cast their beady eyes upon my statement, and demand that I eat salads made with rattan shoelaces.

 

Seriously, you have an absolute cracker, and looks to be in pretty good condition.

 

Enjoy it.......

 

[Richard Thomas]

Haha, I have considered what you said and have sent the print to you, it’s in the mail. 😁🍺

 

it has some minor trimming on the left sheet, but the impression is really good, so couldn’t let it pass.

 

My first print was a Kuniyoshi - from the 47 ronin series Seichi gushing den … from then I was hooked. I now focus on musha-e and predominantly Kuniyoshi.

 

Here’s another well referenced Kuniyoshi triptych I recently acquired. This one has strong wood grain across the whole print and mica application to the dark grey gradation, which indicates this is a reasonably early printing of first edition. (This dark grey in the water and on mountains has been omitted in a later edition/state of the print). 
1849, published by Enshuta Hikibei. Robinson T217

The battle at Uji river.

 

 

[Kantaro]

 

I have an old Japanese woodprint which is very brown and a bit faded. No idea how old it is and what is written on it. 

There also are a few stamps on it.

Hope to get some info on it.

Kind regards.

[Bugyotsuji]

Brown!?!?! I can do brown too! 

The actor 坂東箕助 Bando Minosuke… by…

 

Utagawa… 

[Kantaro]

Wow 1786-1865? 

 

Is that correct? Has it any value?

 

Kind regards

[Bugyotsuji]

Sadly, because of the state, the value is in how much you love it. A certain amount of cleaning these is possible, but ‘burnt’ paper like that is generally not reversible, in my limited experience.

Not sure who did your Ukiyoe Kabuki print; my old eyes fail. One of the Utagawa school is possible. Someone here should be able to read that Gō and artist name.

[Kantaro]

I also made a picture of the back side... 

[Baka Gaijin]

Hi Paris,

 

The Circular seal says Kiwame (Approved) and occurs in prints pre 1842.

 

It may be a Gyoji seal which is encountered between 1811 and 1815, and were used by wholesale publishers to indicate approval.

 

Below it is, I think the publisher's mark is for  Matsumura Tatsuemon active in Edo.

 

Thanks to Dr Andreas Marks' excellent "Publishers of Japanese Woodblock Prints: A Compendium"

 

 

[Kantaro]

Is this a common print?

[Baka Gaijin]

Here's a series of Bando Minosuke depictions, mostly by Utagawa Toyokuni I

 

https://ukiyo-e.org/...rch?q=Bando+Minosuke

[Kantaro]

Thanks Malcolm, much appreciated!

 

I do wonder if anyone has the same wood print...did not find it on the net...

 

I do like mine, even a bit faded and "burnt", like Piers mentioned.

 

Think will frame it and hang it up in the house, it shows age and has character.

 

Kind regards.

[paul alex]

Picked this up yesterday I do have some information on it but I will add what I know later.so you can have a guess first.there are metallic paints in some areas which I've tried to show.thanks paul

[paul alex]

[paul alex]

Utagawa sadakage 

Omi no hagi

The six crystal rivers 

Street walker at tama river.