Waterfall

Hello from Shukado.

In Japanese calendars, today is “Shosho” which means the days have ended summer.

But high temperature has continued in Japan, so we will introduce the item would

 

make you feel cool.

 

 

　　　　　　　　　　

                                                Waterfall　　　Senjyu Hiroshi
     

This is the work that Senjyu Hiroshi depicted.

Waterfall is his most popular theme.

You might have seen his works anywhere.

Because you can see his works at Haneda airport.(click here)

And his works were on exhibit at the conference room of APEC 2010.

In addition he held one-man exhibitions in New York severaltimes.

Kuniyoshi's "Beauty in chequered kimono"

Hello from Shukado.

Today, we will intoroduce you a famous series of Kuniyoshis Ukiyo-e,

"Shimazoroi Onna Benkei, (Women in Benkei-chequered kimono)".

                                                  Kuniyoshi "Shimazoroi Onna Benkei"  $886.00

This selection is from a series of mitate-e (parody prints) composing ten prints which illustrate beautiful women dressed in chequered kimono.

The patterned textile is reference to the chequered cloth frequently worn by Benkei,

A follower of Minamoto Yoshitsune famed for his strength.

Each prints in the series portrays includes episodes about Benkei.

In this print the seven different weapons that Benkei sometimes carried on his back

Ornament her obi(belt).

You can check other Kuniyoshi's works on Japanese Fine Art. Com.

Please visit here!

Genroku Yamatonishiki

Hello from Shukado.

Have you noticed the special topic in Japanese Fine Arts . com (Shukado's web site) had chaged.
Now we feature "Genroku Yamatonishiki " by Kawanabe Kyosai .
The series represents warriors from Akoroshi when they conducted a raid in 1702.

   Kawanabe Kyosai, "Genroku Yamatonishiki, Okajima Yasoemon & Kurahashi Densuke"  $1013.00

Here depicted is the brave look of Okajima Yasoemon Tsuneshige and Kurahashi Densuke Takeyuki, both Akoroshi members, in a fight. In an elaborate depiction, ash spill out from a brazier thrown in from the enemies, half covering the title script. Struggling in the heated carbon and ash, they are bravely managing to put their enemies down.

    Kawanabe Kyōsai(1831–1889) was a Japanese artist, in the words of a critic, "an individualist and an independent, perhaps the last virtuoso in traditional Japanese painting".

Living through the Edo period to the Meiji period, Kyōsai witnessed Japan transform itself from a feudal country into a modern state. Born at Koga, he was the son of a samurai. After working for a short time as a boy with Utagawa Kuniyoshi, he received his artistic training in the Kanō school, but soon abandoned the formal traditions for the greater freedom of the popular school. During the political ferment which produced and followed the revolution of 1867, Kyōsai attained a reputation as a caricaturist. He was arrested three times and imprisoned by the authorities of the shogunate. Soon after the assumption of effective power by the Emperor, a great congress of painters and men of letters was held at which Kyōsai was present. He again expressed his opinion of the new movement in a caricature, which had a great popular success, but also brought him into the hands of the police this time of the opposite party.
Plese check his other works here!

Ikenaga Yasunari

The winner of Grand Prix 8th Tatehiko Suga announced.

Ikenaga Yasunari has won the Horable Mention Prize .

Suga Tatehiko (1878-1963) was a Japanese-style painter from Tottori. He learned different painting styles from his father and by himself. He created his unique style based on sketches. He received a high acclaim with the serial works featuring the old Osaka culture, which he produced in his later years.

You can check a part of his award winnig here.

And please visit his special page in Shukado' homepage.

If you get his works, please check here.

New Catalog VOL.32

Today, we will write about our new catalog.
Shukado Catalog VOL.32  has issued.
Special features are Watanabe Seitei, Heike vs Genji and Utagawa Hiroshige.

Watanabe Seitei (1851-1918) was a Japanese-style painter from Edo, who studied under Kikuchi Yosai and Shibata Zeshin. He excelled at Kachoga (Bird-and-Flower Painting). His artworks capturing oil painting texture produced after his stay in Europe were highly evaluated in Europe. He also handled a lot of wood-block prints and illustrations.

We will show you one of Seitei'work from the catalog.

Watanabe Seitei "Autumn with Beautiful Leaves"

There are 10piece of Seitei's works in the catalog.

And you check alot of other items, for example Kawai Gyokudo, Kainosho Tadaoto, Kikuchi Yosai

and so on.

If you get interested our catalog, Please check here!

Japanese Ghosts

Ghosts are popular theme for Ukiyo-e.

And in summer exhibitions of Ghost works are often held at museums.

Today we will show you a “ghost ukiyo-e”

　　　　　　　　　　　Toyokuni Ⅲ　"Ghost of Koheiji"　$938.00

This ukiyo-e was depicted from a scene of kabuki.

This season depicted in the work is consider mid summer, obon season.

Souls are believed to return to their families during obon season.

I think you can see a cow made by eggplant.

That is a special item to offer the souls.

Because cows are a slow walker, it is believed that souls would return to

 the netherworld.

Now, a exhibition of ghosts is held In Fukuoka prefecture.

You can see above item in the exhibition.

We recommend the check of its website.

It is very interesting. (sorry only Japanese)

And please check the category "ghosts" in our web site.

One Hundred Aspects of the Moon

This year is one hundred  twentieth anniversary of Tsukioka Yoshitoshi's death.
Tsukioka Yoshitoshi(1839-1892) was an artist of Japanese paintings, taught by Ichiyusai or Utagawa Kuniyoshi.

He created modern ukiyo-e depicting warriors, actors and beauties and many sensational pieces. Since circa 1873, he created art pieces with unique drawing techniques based on timely topics.

His drawing technique depicting a moving motion as a stop motion can also be found in modern Manga cartoons, thus some people call him as a pioneering cartoonist.
Today, We introduce to you his outstanding works  "One Hundred Aspects of the Moon
(Tsuki Hyakushi)"
He took seven years to complete this great artwork consisted of 100 pieces.

Tsukioka Yoshitoshi, "Chika over Asano River, 100 Aspects of the Moon"
Here depicted is “Chika”, a ground-daughter of Zeniya Gohei who was running a money exchange shop in Kaga (present Kanazawa Pref.) in the Edo period. Gohei launched a business on the reclamation works in his later years, but opposite people spread a bad rumor on him in connection to an accident caused by a contaminated fish, and he was put in a jail despite not guilty and died behind the bars. Chika kept protesting his grand-father’s innocence and visited the shrine for prayer every night which harmed his health. She seemed to have passed away at 26.
Chika in the piece shown wears a sad expression. Her loose clothes might suggest her short life. 

You can check other items of One Hundred Aspects of the Moon here.
Please visit our site!