Traditional Japanese Prints

Vibrant woodblock prints capturing scenes from Japanese culture, featuring courtesans and actors in detailed costumes, illustrating festive and theatrical life.

Noblewoman on the Dock, Japanese Prints

Acteur Yamashita Kinsaku II in de Rol Van de Courtisane Agemaki, Katsukawa Shunsho, 1773-1777 print Courtisane with a long letter in the right hand; On the right a part of an umbrella. Middle leaf of Triptych. Japan paper color woodcut portrait of actor, actress. actor (on the stage). letter, envelope

Samurai in the rain. Night scene, with actor ONE Kikugoro III (1784-1849) in the role of Soga No Jûrô sukenari, in the rain with a waving in his hand. This scene comes from the play Soga Nakamura, raised in the Nakamura Theater in Edo in 1825. With one poem. Left sheet of triptych.

Woman with Umbrella and Letter, one sheet of the triptych In the Iris Garden. Date: fifth month 1866. Dimensions: 37 cm x 25 cm. Museum: Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam. Author: Utagawa Kunisada II.

The Actor Nakamura Nakazo I Greeting the Audience on His Return from Osaka. Katsukawa Shunko I; Japanese, 1743-1812. Date: 1783-1793. Dimensions: 31.7 x 14.1 cm (12 1/2 x 5 9/16 in.). Color woodblock print; hosoban. Origin: Japan. Museum: The Chicago Art Institute, Chicago, USA.

The Third Segawa Kikunojo as a Woman Standing, Holding a Fan 12th month, 1788 Katsukawa Shun'ei Japanese. The Third Segawa Kikunojo as a Woman Standing, Holding a Fan. Katsukawa Shun'ei (Japanese, 1762-1819). Japan. 12th month, 1788. Woodblock print; ink and color on paper. Edo period (1615-1868). Prints

Lady in waiting watchinglooking at her reflection in the a mirror Katsukawa, shuntei (1770 1820)

Epitaph portrait of the onnagata actor in female garments; Iwai Hanshiro VI (1799-1837). Utagawa, Kuniyoshi (1798-1861), graphic artist

Parting of Lovers: Courtesan and Her Lover. Artist: Kitagawa Utamaro (Japanese, ca. 1754-1806). Culture: Japan. Dimensions: H. 14 3/4 in. (37.5 cm); W. 10 in. (25.4 cm). Date: ca. 1800.Unlike Harunobu's romantic parting scenes, Utamaro's focuses on the sensuality and eroticism of the lovers more directly. Utamaro portrays the courtesan half undressed, with her breast and thigh exposed. Her dress is rumpled at the cross of her thighs, adding even more of a sensual air to the scene. The man's elongated face, the courtesan's unkempt hair, and their pale skin enhance the erotic mood. The couple's seemingly fixed poses, emphasized by the way they look at and touch each other, makes it appear as if they are acting out a scene in a play. Museum: Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, USA.

Nakamura Nakazo II as Prince Koretaka Disguised in the Play Ōshukubai Koi no Hatsune 1794 Tōshūsai Sharaku Japanese. Nakamura Nakazo II as Prince Koretaka Disguised in the Play Ōshukubai Koi no Hatsune 37383

Geisha in OUDROZE KIMONO, KEISAI EISEN, C. 1828 print Geisha in an old pink kimono, against a blue background with calligraphy texts. At the top left a fan -shaped cartouche with the image of an actor. The print is an allusion to old songs related to pleasure neighborhoods and the Kabuki Theater. The calligraphy in the background is part of such a song. paper color woodcut courtesan, hetaera. calligraphy

Bust portrait of the courtesan Kisegawa from the Matsubaya house. Matsubaya uchi Kisegawa (title on object) The seven Komachi from the pleasure houses (series title) Seiro nana Komachi (series title on object), Bust portrait of courtesan with loose hair, the hands under her obi with dragon motif, against yellow background. In addition to the print title, the names of her two kamuro (youngest helpers of a courtesan): Sasano and Takeno. (bijinga), courtesan, hetaera, Kitagawa Utamaro (mentioned on object), Japan, 1795 - 1800, paper, colour woodcut, h 336 mm × w 251 mm

Modern Representation of the Poetess Kaga no Chiyo ca. 1765 Suzuki Harunobu Japanese. Modern Representation of the Poetess Kaga no Chiyo 45268

Suzuki Harunobu (1724 July 7, 1770) was a Japanese woodblock print artist, one of the most famous in the Ukiyo-e style. He was an innovator, the first to produce full-color prints (nishiki-e) in 1765, rendering obsolete the former modes of two- and three-color prints. Harunobu used many special techniques, and depicted a wide variety of subjects, from classical poems to contemporary beauties (bijin, bijin-ga). Like many artists of his day, Harunobu also produced a number of shunga, or erotic images. During his lifetime and shortly afterwards, many artists imitated his style. A few, such as Harushige, even boasted of their ability to forge the work of the great master. Much about Harunobu's life is unknown.

A Lady with Three Servants, from the series A Brocade of Eastern Manners (Fuzoku Azuma no nishiki) 1778-1789 Japan. Color woodblock print; oban . Torii Kiyonaga

Women examining pieces of cloth preparatory to making garments., 1796. Woodcuts., One sheet of a triptych. Image 15 x 10 in. (38.1 x 25.4 cm)

Pair of actors, Segawa Kukinojo and Ichikawa Omezo, in the roles of a woman and a man Utagawa, toyokuni (1769 1825)

Yoshitsune Serenading Jorurihime. Artist: Torii Kiyonaga (Japanese, 1752-1815). Culture: Japan. Dimensions: H. 14 1/8 in. (35.9 cm); W. 9 5/8 in. (24.4 cm). Date: ca. 1785. Museum: Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, USA.

Man at His Dressing Table, c. 1825 - c. 1830 print The actor Matsumoto Kôshirô V (1764-1838) is sitting in front of his dressing table. He smokes a long pipe. The Sekidera title is an allusion to the play of the same name, in which the actor played. With one anonymous poem. The 'Seven Komachi', from the title, means seven events from the life of the famous female poet Ono No Komachi. The relationship with Komachi in this print is that the head of the Sekidera temple took his followers at a good time to meet the old Komachi. paper color woodcut actor (on the stage). making toilet. kneeling on both knees

YukiSnow. Artist: Suzuki Harunobu (Japanese, 1725-1770). Culture: Japan. Dimensions: 11 1/8 x 8 3/8 in. (28.3 x 21.3 cm). Date: ca. 1769. Museum: Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, USA.

The Actor Sanogawa Ichimatsu I as Soga no Goro in the play "Hatachiyama Horai Soga," performed at the Ichimura Theater in the first month, 1759. Torii Kiyomitsu I; Japanese, 1735-1785. Date: 1759. Dimensions: 11 3/4 x 5 1/2 in. Color woodblock print; hosoban, benizuri-e. Origin: Japan. Museum: The Chicago Art Institute, Chicago, USA.

The actor as a woman in the corner of the room Kunisada, UTAGAWA (1786 1864)

Untitled. Artist: Suzuki Harunobu (Japanese, 1725-1770). Culture: Japan. Dimensions: 11 1/2 x 8 3/8 in. (29.2 x 21.3 cm). Date: ca. 1768.The poem inscribed on this print of a young man fixing his lover's clog reads: "Even today the street is barely passable; if it were to snow tomorrow one could not hope for him to come". Museum: Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, USA.

Dancers of Tachibana Street 1742-1815 Torii Kiyonaga Japanese. Dancers of Tachibana Street 57092

Portrait of Ichimura Takenojo and Sanjo Kantaro. Artist: Okimura Toshinobu (Japanese, active 1725-50). Culture: Japan. Dimensions: Aiban; H. 13 3/16 in. (33.5 cm); W. 9 in. (22.9 cm). Date: ca. 1793.This print shows two actors before a single mirror. In Toshinobu's image, the male actor Sanjo Kantaro is depicted in a female role, with the actor Ichimura Takenojo seated in front of him. The mirror in the right foreground leads the viewer diagonally into the interior and also indicates the setting: the actors are in a dressing room preparing for a performance. Gold dust was applied to the actors' belts--a technique that classifies the print as urushi-e (lacquered). Museum: Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, USA.

Yamauba resting beside a rock (Japanese title: Sore-ni), from the `Yama mata yama` series; surimono. Hokkei, Totoya (1780-1850), graphic artist

Night Pass in theSnow. Artist: Kitagawa Utamaro, Japanese, 1753-1806

The Actor Segawa Kikunojo II. Torii Kiyomitsu I; Japanese, 1735-1785. Date: 1765-1775. Dimensions: 11 3/4 x 5 1/4 in. Color woodblock print; hosoban. Origin: Japan. Museum: The Chicago Art Institute, Chicago, USA.

Beauty from the An'ei era reading a book; print from the series Mirror of the Ages (Jidai kagami). Toyohara, Chikanobu (1838-1912), graphic artist

Naniwaya Okita and Takashima Ohisa playing a game of ken. Chobunsai Eishi; Japanese, 1756-1829. Date: 1788-1799. Dimensions: 10 1/4 x 14 15/16 in. Color woodblock print; oban yoko-e. Origin: Japan. Museum: The Chicago Art Institute, Chicago, USA. Author: Chobunsai Eishi.

The Actors Iwai Hanshiro IV as Kuzunoha, Ichikawa Yaozo III as Yakanpei, and Ichikawa Ebizo IV as Abe no Doji, in the play Ashiya Doman Ouchi Kagami, performed at the Nakamura Theater in the ninth month, 1784 1784 Japan. Color woodblock print . Torii Kiyonaga

Young woman reading ascroll. Artist: Ishikawa Toyonobu, Japanese, 1711-1785

Married man and widow, 1799 print Woman with the sleeve of her kimono in front of her mouth, looking at her lover. In the background a set with smoke utensils. Ninth of thirteen prints from the album Negai No Itoguchi (also translated with: The Prelude to Desire). paper color woodcut coitus, cohabiting, sexual intercourse

The tenth month; Kannazuki; Poems about customs and use in the four seasons.; Fuzoku Shiki Kasen. Young man sitting in front of sliding door at which painting of bird and pine, reading a letter while a girl looks at him from behind. On the left a face on the porch with autumn branches in a vase, behind which rain. A poem in a cloud-shaped cart shower along the top of the print.

Young Women Playing Cat's Cradle 1762-1773 Japan. Color woodblock print; chuban . Suzuki Harunobu

Threebeauties. Artist: Sonsai K?itsu, Japanese, active ca. 1820-30

The Actors Sawamura Sōjurō and Arashi Shincha. Utagawa Kunisada (Toyokuni III) (Japan, Edo, 1786-1865). circa 1810s. Prints; woodblocks. Color woodblock print

Segawa Kikunojo lll in the Role of Courtesan Katsuragi. Toshusai Sharaku ; Japanese, active 1794-95. Date: 1790-1800. Dimensions: 31.4 x 13.4 cm. Color woodblock print; hosoban. Origin: Japan. Museum: The Chicago Art Institute, Chicago, USA.

Nissaka, from the series "Fifty-three Stations of the Tokaido (Gojusan tsugi)," also known as the Figure Tokaido (Jinbutsu Tokaido). Utagawa Hiroshige ; Japanese, 1797-1858. Date: 1852. Dimensions: 25.4 x 18.1 cm (10 x 7 1/8 in.). Color woodblock print; chuban. Origin: Japan. Museum: The Chicago Art Institute, USA.

Ichimura Kamezo in the Role of Kanto Koroku. Artist: Torii Kiyomitsu (Japanese, 1735-1785). Culture: Japan. Dimensions: 12 1/4 x 5 7/16 in. (31.1 x 13.8 cm). Date: ca. 1760. Museum: Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, USA.

The Actor Segawa Yujiro I in an Unidentified Role. Katsukawa Shunsho ; Japanese, 1726-1792. Date: 1768-1778. Dimensions: 32.5 x 14.9 cm (12 13/16 x 5 7/8 in.). Color woodblock print; hosoban. Origin: Japan. Museum: The Chicago Art Institute, USA.

Courtesan asleep. Date/Period: Late 18th century-early 19th century. Print. Woodblock print on paper. Height: 210 mm (8.26 in); Width: 180 mm (7.08 in). Author: KATSUSHIKA HOKUSAI.

Bunya no Yasuhide, from the series "Fashionable Children as the Six Immortal Poets (Furyu kodakara rokkasen)". Kikukawa Eizan; Japanese, 1787-1867. Date: 1809-1822. Dimensions: 15 x 10 1/8 in. Color woodblock print; oban. Origin: Japan. Museum: The Chicago Art Institute, Chicago, USA.

A face on amanohashidate; Hashidate; Three famous faces; Sankei No Uchi. A standing courtisane looks at how her servant hangs out a painting from Amanohashidate. This famous place is located in the north of Japan and is overgrown with pine trees. With one poem: the 'bridge to heaven' in the painting of Amanohashidate barring, the first dream of the new year has no end.

Acteur Ichikawa Danjuro IV, Katsukawa Shunsho, 1765-1770 print Actor, in the left hand an imperial letter, with a right hand his kimono rising; Against gray wall with edge on which landscape. Japan paper color woodcut portrait of actor, actress. letter, envelope

Parody of the Legend of Kyoyu and Sofu 1764-72 Suzuki Harunobu Japanese. Parody of the Legend of Kyoyu and Sofu 55797

A Celebration of Gallantry

Courtisane Komurasaki from the Tsunotamaya house, c. 1780 - c. 1800 print Sitting woman with loose hair and long pipe in the right hand, smelled in the direction of four white birds each with a Japanese character with her. paper color woodcut adult woman. pipe ~ tobacco. birds

The Actor Segawa Kikunojo III as Kojoro-gitsune Disguised as the Florist Okiku in the Play Mure Takamatsu Yuki no Shirahata, Performed at the Ichimura Theater in the Eleventh Month, 1780 1775-1785 Japan. Color woodblock print; hosoban . Katsukawa Shunsho

Two Women at the Waterside. Suzuki Harunobu ; Japanese, 1725 ()-1770. Date: 1761-1770. Dimensions: 10 1/2 x 8 in. Color woodblock print; chuban. Origin: Japan. Museum: The Chicago Art Institute, USA.

A Woman with a Poem Card, from the series A Set of Seven for the Katsushika Club 1816-1833 Japan. Color woodblock print with metallic pigments; surimono shikishiban . Yashima Gakutei

. Woman, the feet washing on wooden veranda. Round cartouche in the upper right corner in which face on temple grounds with stairs over water basin and white fox near water curd in the shape of a dragon.

Aktor Ichikawa Danjuro VIII w roli Magosaku; sztuka pt. Umetayanagi sakigake soshi, grana w teatrze Ichimura w Edo. Utagawa, Kunisada I (1786-1864), graphic artist

The Promenade. Artist: Torii Kiyonaga (Japanese, 1752-1815). Culture: Japan. Dimensions: H. 15 3/8 in. (39.1 cm); W. 10 15/16 in. (27.8 cm). Museum: Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, USA.

Niwa no yukimi, Viewing a snow covered garden., Torii, Kiyonaga, 1752-1815, artist, 1783, printed later, 1 print : woodcut, color., Print shows three women on a veranda looking at a snow-covered garden.

Atago Hill at Shiba ca. 1783 Torii Kiyonaga Japanese. Atago Hill at Shiba 56743

Two Women ca. 1790 Kitagawa Utamaro Japanese Utamaro has set these two beauties one above the other in an unforgettable curved diagonal. The image is cropped at the right, while both look down toward the left corner. As in traditional ink painting, where negative and positive are played off against each other, here the artist has placed in opposition not only the forms themselves against the empty ground, but also the contourless, whitened faces and parted red lips against the vibrant fabric of robes and black hair. The wearing of wide obi in the late Edo period changed the way kosode were decorated. When large-scale designs were used, they were now placed on hems and the ends of sleeves. Small invertible overall patterns also became popular, such as the stencilled design of water and bamboo in this print. White ikat patterns on a dark ground, as seen here, were also prevalent. A stylish "commoner's" design, it was adapted from a rustic pattern but often woven in luxury fabrics, such a

The Actor Otani Hiroji III as Makino Arataro Tokizumi in the Play Hana no O-Edo Masakado Matsuri, Performed at the Ichimura Theater in the Eleventh Month, 1789. Katsukawa Shunsho ; Japanese, 1726-1792. Date: 1784-1794. Dimensions: 31.8 x 14.8 cm (12 1/2 X 5 13/16 in.). Color woodblock print; hosoban. Origin: Japan. Museum: The Chicago Art Institute, USA.

Memorial Portrait of the Actor Onoe Kikugoro IV and His Wife. Utagawa School; Japanese, 19th century. Date: 1860. Dimensions: . Color woodblock print; oban. Origin: Japan. Museum: The Chicago Art Institute, Chicago, USA.

Actor in the role of Struikrover, Katsukawa Shunsho, 1780 - 1790 print Man on sandals, in black and orange clothing, with black lantern in the right and sword in the left hand, standing for wicker fence. Japan paper color woodcut portrait of actor, actress. lantern. hacking and thrusting weapons: sword

Takashima Ohisa, from the series A Fashionable Set of Three (Furyu sanpuku tsui) 1789-1799 Japan. Color woodblock print; oban . Utagawa Toyokuni I

Courtesans of the Obishiya, from the book Mirror of Beautiful Women of the Pleasure Quarters (Seiro bijin awase sugata kagami), vol 2 1776 Japan. Color woodblock print; double-page illustration cut from a book . Katsukawa Shunsho

The Actor Nakamura Karoku I as Fujiya Azuma 1827 Japan. Color woodblock print; sheet from oban tetraptych . Shunshosai Hokucho

Actors playing the roles of Giheiji and his son-in-law, Danshichi Kurobei 1763-1773 Japan. Color woodblock print; chuban . Katsukawa Shunsho

Nakamura Nakazo II as Prince Koretaka disguised as the farmer Tsuchizo in the play Intercalary Year Praise of a Famous Poem (Uruo Toshi Meika no Homare), performed at the Miyako Theater in the eleventh month, 1794 1790-1800 Japan. Color woodblock print, oban . Tôshûsai Sharaku

French Photographer 1861 Utagawa Yoshikazu Japanese. French Photographer. Utagawa Yoshikazu (Japanese, active ca. 1850-70). Japan. 1861. Woodblock print; ink and color on paper. Edo period (1615-1868). Prints

Actors Matsumoto Koshiro V and Ichikawa Danjuro VII. Artist: Utagawa Toyokuni I, Japanese, 1769-1825

Interior Scene ca. 1788 Torii Kiyonaga Japanese. Interior Scene 55616

Kurahashi Densuke Kiyohara no Takeyuki Holding a Lantern. Tsukioka Yoshitoshi (Japan, 1839-1892). Japan, 1868, 6th month. Prints; woodblocks. Color woodblock print

Ogura imitation of the one hundred poems. Dancer Giô during a moonlit night on the Saga plain. Isami Tomokichirô in battle with Rokuya Ongundayû, who has just thrown a knife in the sword of Tomokichirô. Scene from a Kabukite team. Poem by ôe no Chisato, a poet from the ninth, early tenth century.

Emperor Go-Fushimi 1288 - 1336. 93rd emperor of Japan, reign spanned the years from 1298 to 1301

A Spring Outing, one sheet of a triptych. Date: 1849-1852. Dimensions: 37 cm x 26 cm. Museum: Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam. Author: UTAGAWA KUNISADA.

The Actor Nakamura Matsue I as Tsuchiya Umegawa Disguised as the Female Sumo Wrestler Oyodo ( ) in the Play Naniwa no Onna-zumo ( ), Performed at the Nakamura Theater ( ) in the Sixth Month, 1770 ( ) 1765-1775 Japan. Color woodblock print; hosoban . Ippitsusai Buncho

Sugawara of the Tsuruya dreaming of Daikoku. Isoda Koryusai; Japanese, 1735-1790. Date: 1773-1783. Dimensions: 10 1/4 x 7 3/4 in. Color woodblock print; chuban. Origin: Japan. Museum: The Chicago Art Institute, USA.

Two women at a table with books Kunisada, UTAGAWA (1786 1864)

Memorial Portrait of the Actor Ichikawa Kodanji IV and Poet Shinba Koyasu. Artist Unknown; Japanese, 19th century. Date: 1865-1866. Dimensions: . Color woodblock print; oban. Origin: Japan. Museum: The Chicago Art Institute, Chicago, USA.

Group of Women on the Engawa of a Country House, in the time of the Cherry Blossoming ca. 1806 Utamaro II Japanese. Group of Women on the Engawa of a Country House, in the time of the Cherry Blossoming 54878

The First Nakamura Nakazo in the Role of Kudo Suketsune probably 1775 Katsukawa Shunshō　川春章 Japanese. The First Nakamura Nakazo in the Role of Kudo Suketsune 36835

The Actor Segawa Yujiro I as Matsukaze, Sister of Togashi no Saemon, in the Play Gohiiki Kanjincho (Your Favorite Play Kanjincho The Subscription List), Performed at the Nakamura Theater from the First Day of the Eleventh Month, 1773. Katsukawa Shunsho ; Japanese, 1726-1792. Date: 1768-1778. Dimensions: 30.2 x 14.3 cm (11 7/8 x 5 5/8 in.). Color woodblock print; hosoban, possibly the left sheet of triptych. Origin: Japan. Museum: The Chicago Art Institute, USA.

The Actor Matsumoto Yonesaburō in a Woman's Role late 1790s Utagawa Kunimasa Japanese Both Kunimasa and his teacher, Utagawa Toyokuni, produced prints of actors in close-up views (o-kubi-e) around 1795-96. Here, in an arresting image of Matsumoto Yonesaburō in a woman's role, Kunimasa captures a feminine quality in the elegant depiction of the actor's fingers touching the delicate layers of kimono neckbands.. The Actor Matsumoto Yonesaburō in a Woman's Role 45225

The actor Ichimura Uzaemon in the role of Taro Kaja, Daimyos servant Kunisada, UTAGAWA (1786 1864)

Woodblock Print, Fragment: Sawamura Sojuro drawing his sword; Utagawa Kuninao (Japanese, 1793 - 1854); Japan; woodblock print (ukiyo-e) on mulberry paper (washi); 1955-151-23

Splendour of Butterflies and Peonies in the Garden, left sheet of a triptych. Date: 1849. Dimensions: 38 cm x 26 cm. Museum: Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam. Author: UTAGAWA KUNISADA.

De God ebisu, yashima gakutei, c. 1828 print A woman sits with a basket with a perch. In one hand she holds the lid of the basket, in her other hand a letter box of lacquerwork. The woman depicts the happiness god Ebisu, which is usually depicted with a perch and a fish rod. With one poem. Japan paper color woodcut bony fishes: sea-bream

The Actor Ichikawa Monnosuke I as Oiso no Tora in the play Nigiwai Suehiro Soga, performed at the Morita Theater in the first month, 1721 ( ) 1716-1726 Japan. Hand-colored woodblock print; hosoban, urushi-e . Torii Kiyonobu I

Album of Ninety-eight Prints from the series Ogura Imitations of One Hundred Poems by One Hundred Poets (Ogura nazorae hyakunin isshu) 19th century Utagawa Kuniyoshi Japanese. Album of Ninety-eight Prints from the series Ogura Imitations of One Hundred Poems by One Hundred Poets (Ogura nazorae hyakunin isshu) 36688

The Courtesans of the Chjiya: Itsuhata, Chiyama, Misayama, Itotaki, and Oribae. Artist: Hosoda Eishi, Japanese, 1756-1829

. The show is based on a Chinese myth in which the Sennin Kôshôhei (CH. Huang Chuping) changes a goat in a rock and vice versa. With two poems. The print is a B copy.

The Actor Otani Oniji II as Asahina Saburo in the play "Hatachiyama Horai Soga," performed at the Ichimura Theater in the first month, 1759. Torii Kiyosato; Japanese, active c. 1751-64. Date: 1759. Dimensions: 12 3/8 x 5 7/8 in. Color woodblock print; hosoban, benizuri-e. Origin: Japan. Museum: The Chicago Art Institute, Chicago, USA.

Nakamura Nakazo I as Watanabe no Tsuna, 1781. Katsukawa Shunzan (Japanese). Color woodblock print; sheet: 31 x 14.4 cm (12 3/16 x 5 11/16 in.).

Actor Nakamura Shikan II (Nakamura Utaemon) as Toneri Matsumori in the Kabuki play titled Sugawara Denju tenari kagami". Utagawa, Toyoshige (1777-1835), graphic artist

Geisha at work on the Sumida River; Sumidagawa Yoseru Geisha .. man and woman businesses love under a parasol, in a boat.

The oiran Matsuzake with a pipe, by Kitagawa Utamaro (1753-1806), woodcut, Japan. Japanese Civilisation, Meiji period, 18th-19th century.

Actor Kataoka Nizaemon VIII as the demonic thief Orochimaru, 1862, 12th lunar month, Utagawa Kunisada; Publisher: Hiranoya Shinzō, Japanese, 1786 - 1865, 14 1/2 × 9 9/16 in. (36.83 × 24.29 cm) (image, vertical ōban), Woodblock print (nishiki-e); ink and color on paper, Japan, 19th century, Toyokuni's Drawings: A Magic Contest features kabuki actors juxtaposed to people, good or evil, that have supernatural powers. The motifs derive from popular legends, kabuki plays, or adventure novels that were well-liked in the mid-19th century. As this series was one-of-a-kind each print was published on thick paper with expensive pigments and special printing features like embossing and lacquer printing.

Musashibo Benkei Brings the Captured Tosabo Shoshun to Yoshitsune in the Play Horikawa Youchi no Zu Uki-e Nimaitsuzuki 1777-1787 Japan. Color woodblock print; oban; left sheet of diptych . Katsukawa Shunsho

Double Pillow. Kitagawa Utamaro ; Japanese, 1753 ()-1806. Date: 1789-1799. Dimensions: 38.5 x 25.7 cm. Color woodblock print; oban (left sheet of a triptych). Origin: Japan. Museum: The Chicago Art Institute, Chicago, USA.

Shirai Gonpachi and Komurasaki, from the series "Beauties in Joruri Roles (Bijin awase joruri kagami)". Ichirakutei Eisui; Japanese, active 1790-1823. Date: 1790-1800. Dimensions: 37.0 x 23.0 cm. Color woodblock print; oban. Origin: Japan. Museum: The Chicago Art Institute, Chicago, USA.

Vader Akushichibyoe En ZIJN DOCHTER Hitomaru, Utagawa Kunisada (i), 1863 print Kabuki actor Nakamura Shikan IV in the role of the blind Akushichibyoe with sword in his hand, depicted next to actor Bandô Mitsugorô VI in the role of the daughter Hitomaru. Father and daughter are depicted in a frame of black paintwork with copper batter and in the left corner a dark cloud from which seven balls hang. paper color woodcut actor (on the stage). father and daughter(s) (family group). blind, blindness

The actor Sawamura Tozo I as Dogen no Okichi in the play Yoshiwara Niwaka no Banzuke, performed at the Ichimura Theater in the ninth month, 1804 1804 Japan. Color woodblock print; oban . Utagawa Toyokuni I

Nocturnal fishing, 1795 - 1800 print Fishing boat with man, a large fishing net collecting, and girl sitting by basket with fish, looking up to standing woman in pink kimono; A pleasure boat with watching woman in the background; BJ Night. Japan paper color woodcut sports, games ~ animals (+ net)

The Treasure Child 1763-1770 Japan. Color woodblock print; chuban . Suzuki Harunobu

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