Utagawa Kuniyasu
The actor Bando Mitsugoro
Date: ca 1820
Size: Oban: 15.5 x 10.5 inches.
Publisher: Wakasaya Yoichi (1813-1832)
Censor: Kiwame (seal 1790-1832)
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Margin edge notch. Tape at top back edge. Two wormholes (see photo #4).
Note: This is the only example of this design that we could locate.

Tsukioka Kogyo (1869-1927)
Quails and Full Moon
Date: 1900 or earlier.
Size: Shikishiban. 9.75 x 9.25 inches.
Publisher: Matsuki Heikichi (Daikokuya).
Sealed.
Edition: First/early.
Provenance: Purchased from family who acquired in Japan on a 1900 world tour.
Woodblock print is adhered to board.
Condition: Edge toning. Minor marks.

Okuhara Seiko (1837–1913)
Sandpipers on a Beach
Date: 1900 or earlier.
Size: Shikishiban. 9.75 x 9.25 inches.
Publisher: Matsuki Heikichi (Daikokuya).
Signed and sealed.
Edition: First/early.
Provenance: Purchased from family who acquired in Japan on a 1900 world tour.
Woodblock print is adhered to board.
Condition: Edge toning.

Mitsuhiro Unno (1939-1979)
Valley of Utsu - A set of five miniature Japanese woodblock prints.
Date: 1966.
Each woodblock print is 2.25 x 2 inches.
Condition: Excellent.
Note: Set includes woodblock-printed title sheet, colophon, and list of subjects.

Ide Gakusui
Heron in Rain
Date: ca. 1950.
Size: Oban. Approximately 15.25 x 10.25 inches.
Artist's signature and seal lower right.
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo. Round, red 6mm seal lower left, which is consistent with a first edition (produced 1946-1957).
Embossing is featured on the snowy egret's body. Please see enlargement 2.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Adhered to board via contact sheet.

Masaharu Aoyama (1893-1969)
Man Cutting Hay by Hand
Date: ca. 1950s.
Print size: Oban. 16.5 x 12 inches.
Signed in pencil.
Aoyama's seal at lower right.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print attached along top edge only to original holiday card.
Condition: Creasing (See last photo).

Kawase Hasui
Fisherman at Sunset
Date: 1930s. This edition 1950s-60s.
Approximately 5.5 x 3.75 inches.
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo.
Artist's oval seal at lower left.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print attached along its top edge only to original card.
Condition: Excellent.

Uehara Konen (1878-1940)
Dock and sailboat at night
Size: 7.875 x 3.875 inches. 19.8 x 10 cm.
ca. 1910.
Published by Kobayashi Bunshichi. The publisher's shop and many works did not survive the 1923 earthquake.
Artist's seal, publisher's seal lower left.
Cartouche with number 333 in Japanese at lower left.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Excellent.

Arai Yoshimune
Sailing Boats at Anchor Under the Moon
Date: ca. 1910.
Size: Approximately 25.8 x 12.5 cm. 10.125 x 5.875 inches.
Artist's Yoshimune seal at lower left.
Publisher: Matsumoto. Catalog No. 385 tag on back.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Small white surface marks in sky. Verso has a couple of faint foxing marks near top. Margin mark.
Compare with our Yoshimune036 "Sailing Boats and Moon (1)."

Koichi Okumura (1904 ~ 1974)
Panoramic View of Mt. Higashi. (Higashi Tenbo)
Size: Oban. Approximately 15.75 x 10.75 inches.
Date: 1948. Later edition.
Publisher: Unsodo.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Excellent.

An actor portraying a samurai admiring himself in a mirror in a scene from the kabuki theater by Toyokuni III (also known as Kunisada). Signed "by special request of the publisher." Published by Kinjudo between 1847-48. Standard "oban" size panels measuring roughly 15"V x 10"H. Possibly from a triptych. Excellent color with vibrant yellow and green in the background. Good overall condition with no tape stains, toning or tears. The baren marks and image are clearly visible on the back...

Edo Period Japanese woodblock print by Kunisada II (1823-1880) depicting kabuki actors dating 1865. The cartouche at the upper left bears the title of the series and the names of the actors. The signature of the artist, publisher's seal and censor's/date seal are located at the upper right. Measures 14 1/2"V x 10 1/8"H. Very good overall condition. The print is not backed and the baren marks and image are clearly visible on the back. No tape or tape stains...

Japanese woodblock print depicting a beauty lighting a floor lamp titled “Kakinomoto no Hitomaro” (image no. 3) from the series “One Hundred Poems by One Hundred Poets” (Hyakunin-isshu Emyo) by Utagawa Kunisada (1786-1865) published by Sanoya Kihei in 1844. The image is signed “Kunisada changing his name to Toyokuni II” with the red Toshidama seal below. The two cartouches in the shape of playing cards at the upper left hold a picture of a poet and his poem...

Edo Period Japanese woodblock print by Toyokuni III (also known as Kunisada) depicting a half-length portrait of an actor portraying a samurai. This is one of a number of half-length portraits of actors designed by Kunisada in 1852. Signed at the right "Toyokuni ga" (in a red cartouche with yellow snow) with the seal of the publisher Yamazakiya Seishichi below. Fresh color and nice impression quality with fine delineation of the hair and lacquer highlights...

Japanese Edo period woodblock print titled "Four" (yon/shi) depicting the actors Onoe Kikugoro IV and Ichikawa Kodanji IV in the roles of Oiwa and Izaemon from a series titled "After The Seven Iroha" by Toyokuni III (also known as Kunisada) dated 8/1856. This series was published the same year as "Seven Variations of the Iroha." The title cartouches of the prints in this series feature ciphers written seven different ways. "Iroha" refers to a distinct form of Japanese poetry...

Japanese Edo period woodblock print by Toyokuni III (also known as Kunisada) depicting a kabuki actor portraying a samurai. His sword rests on the ground and his matchlock musket leans against the wall. Firearms were introduced to Japan by foreign traders in the 16th century. The maru-ni-chigai-Takanoha family mon is on his kimono. This crest, which consisted of two crossed hawk feathers, was used by two Edo period samurai families. This image was published by Maruya Seijiro in 1854...

Hiratsuka Un-ichi (1895 ~ 1997)
Nihonbashi Bridge in Tokyo (aka. Night at Nihonbashi Bridge)
Date: 1946
Card size: Approximately 6.0 x 4.25 inches.
This woodblock print is the front cover of a Christmas/New Year card signed in pen by the artist at the inside.
Reference: Collection of the Art Institute of Chicago.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Excellent.

Kawase Hasui
Kawai Bridge
Date: 1930s
Size: Koban. Approximately 7.5 x 5.0 inches.
Provenance: The Robert O. Muller collection
Condition: Excellent.