Chikanobu tryptic,fine detail.

[Lindus]

Have a few prints by Chikanobu{C1890} always liked the work by this man although not top rank. This framed example has been enjoyed for many years but today I was asked how this fine detail could be produced from a wood block....bear in mind that the chap casting the net is only approx: 2" x 2" and a tiny section of the tryptic where the imperial yacht is coming into harbour. Also the colour graduation in the sky.

 

Would appreciate some thoughts on this.

Roy

[Baka Gaijin]

Good morning Roy,

 

This link should explain your questions:

 

http://viewingjapaneseprints.net/texts/ ... print.html

 

Also could you photograph the signature, which may be on the lower right side of the sheet and I will be able to date the print more accurately for you.

 

Chikanobu (Toyohara Chikanobu (豊原周延) (1838–1912), also known as Yōshū Chikanobu (楊洲周延) is quite an interesting character, he was a retainer of the Sakakibara clan of Takada domain in Echigo province.

Following the collapse of the Tokugawa Shogunate, he joined the Shōgitai and fought in the Battle of Ueno.

He later fought in the Battle of Hakodate.

Following the Shōgitai’s surrender, he was remanded to the authorities in the Takada domain.

He went to the newly named Tokyo in 1875,

 

Cheers

[Lindus]

Thank you Malcolm, splendid link & comments.

 

Have six tryptics by the man, all signatures are virtually identical.

 

Regards

 

Roy

[Baka Gaijin]

Good afternoon Roy,

 

Thank you for the photo of the signature, it is very close to the free flowing style he was using from about 1895 with the series "Shiki no hana kyogen mitate", though the elongated base stroke with its deep downward flourish looks similar to the form he was using in 1902 with "Tokyo meisho".

 

Safe to say no earlier than c.1895

 

Cheers

[Lindus]

Malcolm, you know your stuff sir. I have collected prints for many years and have a number of reference works but have to say you have filled in some gaps.

 

Now

 

Are you up for a couple of challenges?

 

Roy

[Lindus]

In case you are a'bed, this is the question...who the hell did these??, have a pair that seem to depict horrible murders..

 

Help.

 

Roy

[Baka Gaijin]

Morning Roy,

 

Your print is by my personal favourite of all the woodblock artists, Tsukioka Yoshitoshi (pupil of Utagawa Kuniyoshi), arguably the father of modern manga comics.

 

Your print is of "Danshichi Kurobei murdering the old man in the mud" from Eimei nijūhasshūku (Twenty-eight famous murders with verse).

 

The full spec is:

In the large rectangular cartouche: Signed: Ikkaisai Yoshitoshi hitsu with the red Kiri seal underneath.

Publisher would be Sano-ya Tomigorō (Kinseidō)

Block carvers would be Hirokō Shimizu Ryūzō

 

The original printing for this series was 1866/7, but yours looks to be a a slightly later state because it's without the lemon tones to the two lower rectangular cartouches by the main signature cartouche and sage green in the "grassy knoll" area. (Not seeing it up close, It may be light bleaching from sunlight).

 

Here's a link about Danshichi Kurobei:

 

http://www.kabuki21.com/danshichi.php

 

Oh and by the way the publisher of the Chikanobu tryptych was Fukuda Kumajirō.

 

Cheers

[Lindus]

 

What can I say old man, you have spent more hours in a dark room full of books than me thats for sure....Splendid stuff and many thanks Malcolm.

 

But one last challenge......

 

Roy

[Bugyotsuji]

This thread has given me a flash of understanding. I have had a puzzling unsigned print for a couple of years which must be by Chikanobu. Many hours have I spent looking at it. The whole style, setting and feeling is close to your print, Roy, and his rendering of the sea is unmistakeable.

[Baka Gaijin]

Morning Roy,

 

I'll have a go, but need to see much more of what is to the left of the misty kanji, bottom third and also right mid section past the circled stamp.

 

Ideally to the actual sheet edges all around if possible.

 

It may be talismanic, an "aka - e" a red print to protect from smallpox.

 

Cheers

[Lindus]

The print edge has at some time been trimmed,the whole print is very fragile so kept under glass. I have my own research but would appreciate your thoughts as well...

 

Signed Nanrei,art name of Nishigawa Sukenshu.

Published Morita of Osaka c 1758, first edition c1747

possibly from the series Higo waka ehon kamu no yamu " Poems by Samurai,nobles & court ladies"

 

OK,shoot me down softly.

 

Regards

 

Roy

[Baka Gaijin]

Morning Roy,

 

There was a Morita-ya Hanjirō (aka Honzō) as a Publishing house in Edo, the earliest dating for them is 1818.

 

Hopefully more as I investigate.

 

Cheers