Japanese Prints From the Early Masters to the Modern

292 Pages·1989·82.095 MB·English

by  James A. Michener

257 plates, including
55 in full color
J A P A N E SE PRINTS
From the Early Masters to the Modern
In James A. Michener the Japanese print has found its
ideal commentator. Combining the finished literary style
of an outstanding novelist with a mature knowledge of
his subject, he is able to bring this great art form to life
in words, directly communicating his understanding,
love, and enthusiasm rather than obscuring his subject
in pedantry. In fact, it might almost be said that he here
lets the prints speak for themselves, in a wealth of mag-
nificent illustrations and apt but unobtrusive commen-
tary. It is only when one has finished the book that he
realizes he has been conducted on a tour of three
centuries of art, a tour so carefully arranged as to give
a deep understanding of the history and aesthetics of
Japanese prints, a new appreciation of a superlative art.
The book has many other unique features. So far as
consonant with his aim of presenting a full survey, Mr.
Michener has illustrated the book with lesser-known
masterpieces rather than with those few prints that have
been reproduced almost ad nauseam. Unlike earlier
books, this does not stop with the past century, but
brings the subject completely up to date, introducing,
in the modern Japanese print, some of the most exciting
art being created in Japan—and in the world—today.
The book also becomes a revealing account of the col-
lecting of Japanese prints, with many valuable hints to
collectors based upon the author's own experiences in
gathering together one of the best print collections of
recent years: it is a collecting field in which many hints
are needed, with prices varying from $5 to $5,000 per
print, and with forgeries and doubtful attributions on
every hand.
The final section of the book contains authoritative
notes concerning each print, prepared by Richard Lane.
In Mr. Michener's words, Dr. Lane "with his meticulous
knowledge of Japanese and his love for ukiyo-e seems
certain to become America's equivalent of the great
German scholar Fritz Rumpf."
It is appropriate that such a book should have been
produced in Japan, and with the unstinting support of
the Honolulu Academy of Arts—the increasingly im-
portant museum at the "crossroads of the Pacific"—
where Mr. Michener's collection is presently housed.
No effort has been spared, especially in the faithfulness
of the reproductions, to make it a worthy example of
the high standards of modern Japanese bookmaking,
drawing upon the same traditions of painstaking
craftsmanship that produced the Japanese print.
Jacket design by M. Kuwata, using a section
of a woodblock print by Chokl (see Plate 173).
JAPANESE PRINTS
BOOKS BY JAMES A. MICHENER
THE MODERN JAPANESE PRINT: An Appreciation
THE HOKUSAI SKETCHBOOKS: Selections from the Manga
JAPANESE PRINTS: From the Early Masters to the Modern
SAYONARA
THE BRIDGE AT ANDAU
with A. Grove Day
RASCALS IN PARADISE
THE FIRES OF SPRING
HAWAII
THE BRIDGES AT TOKO-RI
TALES OF THE SOUTH PACIFIC
CARAVANS
THE SOURCE
RETURN TO PARADISE
THE VOICE OF ASIA
THE FLOATING WORLD
I. HARUNOBU: Girl with Cranes. See note, page 264
JAPANESE PRINTS
FROM THE
EARLY MASTERS
TO THE
MODERN
by James Ai. Michener
with Notes on the Prints by
RICHARD LANE
with the cooperation of
THE HONOLULU ACADEMY OF ARTS
CHARLES E. TUTTLE COMPANY: PUBLISHERS
RUTLAND, VERMONT % TOKYO, JAPAN
Representatives
For Continental Europe:
BOXERBOOKS, INC., Zurich
For the British Isles:
PRENTICE-HALL INTERNATIONAL, INC., London
For Australasia:
BOOK WISE (AUSTRALIA) PTY. LTD.
104-108 Sussex Street, Sydney 2000
Published by the
Charles E. Tuttle Company, Inc.
of Rutland, Vermont & Tokyo, Japan
with editorial offices at
Suido l-chome, 2-6, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo
Copyright in Japan, 1959
by James A. Michener
All rights reserved
Library of Congress Catalog
Card No. 59-10410
International Standard Book
No. 0-8048-0314-5
First printing, 1959
Ninth printing, 1979
Book design and typography by Kaoru Ogimi
MANUFACTURED IN JAPAN
fABLE OF CONTENTS
LIST OF ARTISTS AND PRINTS 6
INTRODUCTION
Section It
THE EARLY PRINTS 25
THE BEGINNINGS: 28
KIYONOBU, KIYOMASU: 34
MASANOBU: 48
MINOR MASTERS: 60
THE END OF AN EPOCH: 71
Section 2:
THE FULL-COLOR PRINTS 89
HARUNOBU: 92
KORYUSAI: 104
BUNCHO: 110
SHUNSHO, SHUNKO, SHUN'EI: 114
K. MASANOBU, SHIGEMASA, TOYOHARU: 126
KIYONAGA: 131
UTAMARO: 142
SHARAKU: 151
CHOKI: 158
SHUNCHO: 162
Eism, EISHO, SHUCHO: 168
Section 3:
LANDSCAPE AND FIGURE PRINTS 175
HOKUSAI AND FOLLOWERS: 178
TOYOKUNi: 192
MINOR MASTERS: 200
HIROSHIGE: 208
Section At
THE MODERNS 217
TRANSITION: 220
FIRST GROUP: 226
ONCHI: 234
SECOND GROUP: 238
NOTES ON THE PRINTS 251
BIBLIOGRAPHY 283
INDEX 285
5
LIST OF ARTISTS AND PRINTS
Arranged alphabetically according to the names by which the artists
are generally known. A star indicates mounted color plates.
220. Cherry Blossoms at Koganei: page 209-10
Azechi Umetaro
221. Sudden Shower at Ohashi: 211
*247. Bird in Safe Hands: page 241
222. Mountain Village: 212
Buncho
223. By Ryogoku Bridge: 213
125. Otani Hiroji III: 111 224. Autumn Moon over the Yoshiwara: 213
126. Osen: 112 *225. Moon through Leaves: 214
*I27. Osen: 113 *226. Plovers in Flight: 214
Choki 227. Wild Geese in Flight: 215
124. Chushingura Parody: 109 228. Cuckoo in Flight: 21$
*I73. The Courtesan Tsukasa-dayu: 159 229. Evening Bell at Mii Temple: 216
174. Girl in Snow: 160 Hokkei
175. Firefly-catching: 161 199. Foreign Warship Saluting: 190
Eisen 200. Ferryboat in Rain: 190
201. Travelers at Fudo Pass: 190
218. Bamboos and Moon: 207
202. Sumiyoshi Shrine: 191
Efshi
203. Night Festival at the Seashore: 191
*i82. The Doll Festival: 169
204. Waterfall at Nikko: 191
183. Courtesan Preparing for Bed: 170
Hokuju
184. Courtesan Preparing for Bed: 171
*I97. Monkey Bridge: 188
Eisho
Hokusai
185. The Courtesan Shinowara: 172
186. The Courtesan Someyama: 173 6. The Poet Abe no Nakamaro Longing for Home
(key-block proof): 19
Fujinobu
*188. Bullfinch and Drooping-cherry: 179
*98. Sanokawa Ichimatsu: 88
189. Fuji from Kajikazawa: 180
Gakutei 190. Fuji from Hodogaya: 181
198. Squall at Tempozan: 189 191. Ryukyu Seascape: 182
192. The Bridge of Boats at Sano: 183
Goyo
193. Butterfly and Tree-peony: 184
233. Woman at Toilette: 224
194. Winter Landscape by the Sumida River: 183
Harunobu *I95. The Poet Li Po Admiring a Waterfall: 186
*1. Girl with Cranes: 2 196. Traveler in the Snow: 187
*5. Girl with Ox: 17
Kaigetsudo Dohan
*1oo. Girl by Veranda: 93
7. Courtesan: 21
101. Shoki Carrying Girl: 94
15. Courtesan: 33
T02. Princess Nyosan: 9$
Kawano Kaoru
*103-4. Two Girls by Stream: 96
105-6. Girl Greeting Lover: 97 239. Girl in Shell: 231
107. The Emperor's Ladies at Backgammon: 08 Kinoshita Tomio
108. Lovers Reading Letter: 99 248. Masks: Design 4: 242
109. Lovers Reading Letter: 99 Kiyochika
110o. Chinese Scholar and Japanese Geisha: 100 230. Pulling the Canal-boat: 221
111. Lovers and Plum Tree: 101
Kiyohiro
113. Lovers in the Snow: 103
86-88. Couples under Umbrellas: 82
116. Young Man Playing Kick-ball: 107
89-91. Young People by the Waterside: 83
Harushige 96. Hikosaburo and Kichiji: 86
112. Girls with Snowball: 102
Kiyomasu I
Hashimoto Okiie *i6. Nakamura Senya in the Role of Tokonatsu: 33
241. Gate and Retainer's Hall, Nijo Castle: 233 17. Goro, Shosho, and Asahina: 36
Hatsuyama Shigeru 18. Saint Narukami and Princess Taema: 36
19. Agemaki and Sukeroku: 37
*253. Flowers, Birds: 247
20. Fuwa and Okuni: 37
Hiratsuka Un'ichi
*2i. Warriors in Combat: 38
254. Horyu-ii in Early Autumn: 248
*22. Takie, Shingoro, and Danjuro: 39
Hiroshige 23. Heikuro and Takesaburo: 40
219. The Salt-beach at Gyotoku: 209-10 25. Courtesan: 42
6
Kiyomasu II Mangetsudo
*28. The Maiden Tamamushi: page 45 65-67. Yoshiwara Komachi: page 68
30. Danjuro and Hiroji: 46 68-70. Lovers under Umbrellas: 69
32. Segawa Kikujiro: 47
Masanobu
Kiyomitsu 4. Courtesans in Procession: 13
84. Bando Hikosaburo II: 80 *8. Onoe Kikugoro: 22
92. Maiden Dreaming: 84 9. Lady Murasaki: 24
*93-95. Dancers: 83 *33. Young Samurai on Horseback: 49
97. Ichikawa Ebizo: 87 34. Cutting up the Flute for Firewood: 30
35. Lovers Playing Checkers: 30
Kiyonaga
36. Courtesan Walking: 51
122. Maiden Watching a Young Man: 109
37. Girl with Mirror: 32
*i45-46. Evening Scene at Shinagawa: 132-33
*38. Onoe Kikugoro: 52
147-48. Snowy Morning in the Yoshiwara: 134
39. Ichikawa Ebizo: 53
149-50. New Year's Scene at Nihombashi: 13$
40. Courtesan Walking: 33
151. River Cool at Dusk: 136
41. Sanokawa Ichimatsu with Puppet: 34
*I52. Komazo and Monnosuke: 137
42. Courtesan with Love Letter: 34
153-55. Sudden Shower at the Mimeguri Shrine: 138
43. Evening Cool by Ryogoku Bridge: 53-36
156. Iwai Hanshiro IV with Manservant: 141
44. Sanokawa Ichimatsu: 37
157. Matsumoto Koshiro IV with Geisha: 141
45. Shidoken the Storyteller: 37
Kiyonobu I
46. Kuo Chii Thanks Heaven: 38
2. Seated Courtesan: 10 4.7. Actor in Snow: 58
*24. Fujimura Handayu: 41 48. Sojuro and Kantaro: 38
29. Kantaro and Takenojo: 46 49. Ichikawa Monnosuke: 59
31. Ichikawa Kuzo: 47 50. Hsu and Ch*ao Resist Temptation: 59
Kiyonobu II 51. Sanokawa Ichimatsu: 59
26. Fujimura Handayu: 43 Masanobu (Kitao)
*27. Segawa Kikunojo: 44 *i4i. Courtesans at Leisure: 127
Kiyoshige Masunobu
*83. Sanokawa Ichimatsu: 80 121. Chushingura Parody: 108
85. Ichikawa Yaozo: 81
Moronobu
Kiyotada
11. Lovers with Attendant: 29
56. Osome and Hisamatsu: 63
12. Groups of Travelers: 30
Kiyotomo 257. Stroll by the Bay (detail): 230
54. Yamamoto Koheiji with Puppet: 62
Munakata Shiko
Koryusai 255. Ubari: 249
*99. Young Man with Hawk: 90 256. Kasen'en: 249
*114. The Courtesan Michinoku with Attendants: 103
Nakao Yoshitaka
115. The Courtesan Michiharu with Attendants: 106
246. Figure: 240
*n8. Girl with Mouse: 107
Onchi Koshiro
Kunimasa *242. Loneliness: 235
212. Ichikawa Ebizo: 201 243. Caricature No. SU36
*213. Nakamura Noshio: 202 244. Poem Number Nineteen: The Sea: 237
214. Ichikawa Danjuro: 203
Ryuson
Kuninobu
231. Moonlight at Yushima: 222
*117. Lovers Walking at Night: 107
Saito Kiyoshi
Kunisada
238. Winter in Aizu: 230
217. Landscape in Mist: 206
Sekino Jun'ichiro
Kuniyoshi
236. Lafcadio Hearn in Japanese Costume: 228
215. Kuo Chti Finds the Pot of Gold: 204
Sharaku
216. Tile-kilns at Imado: 20$
167. Tanimura Torazo: 132
Mabuchi Thoru
168. Ichikawa Ebizo: 153
240. Afternoon Sun: 232
169. Arashi Ryuzo: 134
Maekawa Sempan *I70. Sawamura Sojuro III: 135
237. Akita Dancer: 229 171. Ichikawa Danjuro VI: 136
7
172. Oniji and Omezo: page 137 58. Sanjo Kantaro: page 64
59. Monnosuke and Wakano: 6$
Shigemasa
60. Sanjo Kantaro: 63
142. Two Geisha: 128
*I43. Geisha with Maidservant: 129 Toyoharu
119. Lovers with Kite: 108
Shigenaga
144. Eight Views of Lake Biwa: 130
61. Descending Geese at Katata: 66
Toyokuni
62. Shoki the Demon-queller: 66
*205. Sawamura Sojuro: 193
63. Shoki the Demon-queller: 67
206. Matsunioto Koshiro: 194
64. Sanokawa Ichimatsu: 67
207. Ichikawa Komazo: 19$
Shigenobu 208. Nakamura Noshiq: 196
71. Ichikawa Ebizo: 70 209. Iwai Hanshiro: 197
72. Girl Selling Flowers: 70 210. Ichikawa Yaozo: 198
211. Onoe Shosuke: 199
Shinagawa Takumi
252. Here Everything Was Alive: 246 Toyonobu
Shinsui *io. Girl after Bath: 26
*73. Ichimatsu and Kikugoro: 72
234. Samisen Minstrel at Ikenohata: 22$
74. Ichimatsu and Kikunojo: 73
Shucho
75. Maiden: 74
187. Girl with White Mouse: 174 *76. Girl Holding Umbrella: 74
Shuncho 77. Girl with Flowers: 75
78. Girl with Umbrella: 73
176. Picnic Procession: 162
79. Girl with Lantern and Fan: 76
*i77-78. Women by Summer Stream: 163-64
179. [Shuncho and Shun'ei.] Street Scene: 165 80. Courtesan and Maidservant: 76
180-81. Riverside Scene: 166-67 81. Ichimatsu and Kikugoro with Puppets: 77-78
82. Young Man with Flower-cart: 79
Shun'ei
Uchima Ansei
*I38. Ichikawa Ebizo: 123
251. Song of the Seashore: 243
139. Ichikawa Ebizo: 124
*i40. Nakayama Tomisaburo: 123 Utamaro
179. [Shun'ei and Shuncho.] Street Scene: 16$ 123. Agemaki and Sukeroku: 109
Shunko 158. Girl with Glass Pipe: 143
159. Okita Carrying Teacup: 144
120. Ichikawa Danjuro V: 108
*i6o. The Courtesan Wakaume with Maidservant: 143
133-35- Sukeroku, Agemaki, and Ikyu: 119-20
161. A Maiden of the Upper Classes: 146
136. Mokuemon, Yamauba, and Kintoki: 121
162. Courtesan after Bath: 147
137. Ichikawa Monnosuke: 122
163. [Utamaro II?] The Courtesan Hanaogi: 148
Shunsho
*i64. Festival Trio: 149
128-29. Kikunojo and Sangoro: 115 165-66. Ohisa, Front and Back: 130
*I30. Kojuro, Tsuneyo, and Sojuro: 116
Wagen
131. Sukegoro and Nakazo: 117
53. Yamashita Kinsaku: 62
132. Nakazo as Hotei: 118
Sugimura Jihei Yamaguchi Gen
13 Lovers by a Screen: 31 *245. Deep Attachment: 239
Sukenobu Yamamoto Kanae
3. Courtesans in Procession: 12 *235. Woman of Brittany: 227
14. Hairdressing: 32
Yasuji
Terushige 232. Shop on the Ginza: 223
55. Mangiku and Danjuro: 63 Yoshida Hodaka
249. Ancient People: 243
Toshinobu
*52. [Style of Toshinobu.] Girl Playing Samisen: 61 Yoshida Masaji
57. Ichikawa Gennosuke: 64 250. Fountain of Earth No. 1: 244
8