An original color woodblock print in the oban size by the Japanese Sosaku Hanga artist Kiyoshi Saito (1907 - 1997). Unlimited, dating from the 1960's. Hand signed in white ink and sealed. Condition: fine, very good impression and color. Dimension: image: 25.9 cm x 38.6 cm, paper: 29.3 cm x 43.8 cm.

Japanese Meiji period woodblock print depicting William Howard Taft viewing a sumo match during his 1905 diplomatic mission to Japan. With Taft weighing in at over 300 lbs., this print is likely offering a subtle comparison between Taft and the wrestler. This print is unsigned and undated. 14 3/4"V x 10 3/8"H. Very good color and impression quality. Good overall condition with pigment transference at the upper left corner, some minor soiling, and a few small holes and thinned areas...

Rare Edo period Japanese namazu-e (earthquake fish picture) woodblock print featuring a giant human-like catfish receiving punishment after being found guilty by a judge for causing the Ansei earthquake of 1855. A group of human-like catfish watch as the punishment is being meted out. In Japanese mythology, it was believed that giant catfish living underground caused earthquakes with their thrashing movements...

Kawase Hasui
Moon at Nakanoshima, Sapporo 1933
Size: Oban. Approximately 15.25 x 10.25 inches.
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo. Bears the 7 mm seal, indicating a printing between 1957 and 1989.
Condition: Unframed. Very good. Slight toning and professionally reinforced left margin.
- A rare appearance of a horse in a Hasui print.

Oversized, humorous Japanese limited edition woodblock print by Clifton Karhu (1927-2007) depicting the smiling, cross-eyed artist standing under a torn umbrella in the rain holding a broken shoe. This print illustrates the Zen saying “Hibi kore kojitsu” (Every day is a good day). The print is pencil-signed, titled “Every Day,” dated ’88, and numbered 57/100 in the lower margin. Paper size: 25 1/8”V x 9 1/8”H (image about 23 1/2” x 7 7/8”)...

Rare Edo period Japanese namazu-e (earthquake fish picture) woodblock print featuring a giant human-like catfish playing a samisen beside an oni (demon) who is seated casually reading a book. In Japanese mythology, it was believed that giant catfish living underground caused earthquakes with their thrashing movements. A series of namazu-e were published anonymously in Japan shortly after the Ansei earthquake hit Edo (now Tokyo) in 1855...

Rare Japanese woodblock print kakemono (vertical diptych) by Toyohara Kunichika (1835-1900) depicting Onoe Kikugoro V as Nikki Danjo, the archvillain of kabuki roles, transforming himself magically into a rat. The kabuki play “Meibuku Sendai Hagi” (“The Disputed Succession”), deals with an assassination attempt on Tsuruchiyo, a child who had inherited the position as head of a Semdai clan. A stolen scroll containing a list of assassination conspirators is in Nikki Danjo’s mouth...

Sino-Japanese War triptych of a naval battle scene at Wei-hai-wei featuring an embattled Chinese ship at the center surrounded by the Japanese fleet. Several final blasts sink the ship and send the Chinese soldiers into the ocean. The black ink signature of the artist is barely visible at the lower right and is possibly Kobayashi Ikuhide (active 1885-1898). The specific date is not filled in on the cartouche, but is 1894-1895. The assembled size is about 27 7/8"H x 14 1/4"V...

Russo-Japanese War triptych illustrating the surprise attack on Russia’s Far Eastern Fleet at Port Arthur that initiated the war. A large torpedo-boat is at the center. Two Russian ships at the upper left have been hit and are sinking. Three Japanese battleships are at the upper right...

Japanese Yokohama woodblock print triptych illustrating the interior of an American steamship by Utagawa Yoshikazu (flourished 1850-1870) published by Maruya Jinpachi in 1861. In this design, the artist utilizes the traditional Japanese convention of “roofless architecture” which allows the contents of the ship to be visible. Inside, westerners are seated at a long table having a dinner party. The assembled size is 14 5/8"V x 29 1/4"H (each panel is about 14 5/8"V x 10"H)...

Japanese limited edition sosaku hanga woodblock print by Tadashi Nakayama (b. 1927) titled “Rainbow Butterflies” featuring Nakayama’s daughter’s face in profile with butterflies in flight around her. This image is pencil-signed “T. Nakayama,” numbered 34/95, and dated 1983 in the bottom margin. The bottom margin edge also contains the. The red Nakayama seal is verso. A color illustration of this image can be found on plate 205 of “T. Nakayama” published in 1989...

Historically important Japanese woodblock print triptych depicting the landing of foreigners of the “Five Treaty Nations” in Yokohama by Utagawa Yoshikazu (flourished 1850-1870). The print features soldiers and civilians from America, England, France, Russia, and The Netherlands grouped together with their respective flag and label. Two Chinese compradores, who facilitated trade, are in the foreground and western ships line the harbor in the background. The print is signed “Issen Yoshik...

Japanese Meiji period Yokohama woodblock print depicting Okiyo, the daughter of a gardener in Mukojima, meeting with a foreigner who desired her to be his concubine. This print is illustration no. 661 from the newspaper series “Yubin Hochi Shimbun” (Postal News) by Tsukioka Yoshitoshi (1839-1892) published by Kinshôdô (Kumagai) the 4th month of 1875. 14 1/2"V x 9 3/4"H. Excellent color and very good overall condition with margins evident. The print has been stored away from sunlight and...

19th century Japanese Yokohama woodblock print depicting the famous Italian painter and printmaker Titian showing a bust portrait to a patron. This image is from a series of anonymous educational prints published in the early Meiji period that related to important Westerners. The print is unsigned and undated. 13 1/2"V x 9 7/8"H. Very good overall condition with margins evident. The print is not backed and has been stored away from sunlight. As the picture of the back shows, this image is ...

Rare Japanese Meiji period woodblock print triptych of the Tokyo-Ueno/Yamashita Train and Ueno Station from the series “Famous Places in Tokyo” by Utagawa Kunitoshi (flourished 1847-1899) dated 1st month of Meiji 22 (1889). The triptych is bound in the original folder and has not been exposed to sunlight. "Enlightenment" prints of the 1880's - 1890's promoted modernization and illustrated the westernization of Japan. The Japanese built their first railroad in 1872. It became a symbol of ...

Illustration of a scene from the Noh theater titled “Ohara Goko” (The Royal Visit to Ohara) by Kogyo Tsukioka (1869-1927) from the series "Nogaku Zue" (Noh Plays) published by Matsuki Heikichi January 10th of 1898. Very good impression quality with silver highlights on the central robe. The background is finely embossed throughout. Standard horizontal oban print measuring 10"V x 14 3/4"H. This image has never been framed and is in very good overall condition. There is a faint area of discol...

Oversized Japanese limited edition sosaku hanga woodblock print by Tadashi Nakayama (b. 1927) titled “Butterflies and Trumpet” featuring Nakayama’s daughter’s face in profile beside a trumpet with butterflies in flight around her. This image is pencil-signed “T. Nakayama,” numbered 45/95, and dated 1985 in the bottom margin. The bottom margin edge also contains the title and original purchase price of 270,000 yen. The red Nakayama seal is verso. A color illustration of this image ca...

Japanese Meiji Period woodblock print from the series "The Calendar of Events in Edo Theater" by Adachi Ginko (1874-1897) dated in the left margin Meiji 30 (1897) 1st month 11th day. The series depicts various scenes and events surrounding kabuki theater. This image depicts several actors and musicians on stage. One actor, holding a fan above his head, dances in bare feet. The red fish peering from behind his back suggests he might be a fisherman. Four actors sitting in a row behind him are al...