Tag Archive for: contemporary japanese art

Discover How Japanese Print Makers Impacted Modern Art

This week’s Japanese woodblock print sale presents a unique collection of colorful pieces. With this array of 19th-21st century woodblock prints, bidders can discover how Japanese print makers impacted the development of modern art. Featuring names like Hiroshige and Yoshida, this sale reveals nuanced techniques and traditional Japanese values mixing contemporary pieces with more vintage works.

One of the contemporary works in this sale is by Daniel Kelly, an American artist based in Kyoto, Japan. He created Ebisu (God of Fishermen) in 2011.

Daniel Kelly, ‘Ebisu’ (God of Fishermen), 2011, Japanese woodblock and kimono fabric on handmade Thai paper. Estimate: $1,200-$1,500

Daniel Kelly, ‘Ebisu’ (God of Fishermen), 2011, Japanese woodblock and kimono fabric on handmade Thai paper. Estimate: $1,200-$1,500

Hiroaki Takahashi (Shotei) was the first artists to be signed under Watanabe Shozaburo. He also prdouced and exhibited original paintings and worked as an illustrator of scientific textbooks, magazines, and newspapers. His print of a cat titled Tama first appeared in 1924; the print edition in this auction was published circa 1946-1957.

Hiroaki Takahashi (Shotei), ‘Tama,’ 1924, edition circa 1946-57, series: ‘Japanese scenes on Tanzaku.’ Estimate: $800-$1,200

Hiroaki Takahashi (Shotei), ‘Tama,’ 1924, edition circa 1946-57, series: ‘Japanese scenes on Tanzaku.’ Estimate: $800-$1,200

Torii Ktondo was trained in the tradition of kabuki actor portraits and translated this training into his famous portraits of beautiful women. An example, titled Rain (Ame), is included in this auction. The winning bidder of this lot will receive a free bonus print of Daikokuya poem slips.

Torii Kotondo, ‘Rain’ (Ame), 1929, later limited edition of 100 prints, circa 1980s, published by Ishukankokai. Estimate: $200-$300

Torii Kotondo, ‘Rain’ (Ame), 1929, later limited edition of 100 prints, circa 1980s, published by Ishukankokai. Estimate: $200-$300

Tsukioka Yoshitoshi (Taiso) was a Japanese artist often considered the last great master of the ukiyo-e movement of woodblock printing and painting. The term ukiyo-e translates to “pictures of the floating world” and refers to a genre of Japanese art with a wide span of imagery such as kabuki actors, folk tales, landscapes, or even erotica. This movement was critical in forming the Western perception of Japanese art.

Tsukioka Yoshitoshi, ‘A New Selection of Eastern Brocade Pictures,’ 1886, Oban diptych, published by Tsunashima. Estimate: $1,500-$1,800

Tsukioka Yoshitoshi, ‘A New Selection of Eastern Brocade Pictures,’ 1886, Oban diptych, published by Tsunashima. Estimate: $1,500-$1,800

Utagawa Yoshifuji’s depiction of the renowned fight between Ushiwakamaru (better known as Minamoto Yoshitsune) and the monk Benkei is one of the highlights of this sale. The diptych, printed in 1854, comes with a preliminary drawing of the right panel. Yoshifuji specialized in pictures of warriors, and also illustrated children’s books.

Utagawa Yoshifuji, ‘Minamoto Yoshitsune Fighting Benkei on Gojo Bridge,’ 1854, Oban diptych, signed ‘Ipposai Yoshifuji ga.’ Estimate: $2,000-$2,500

Utagawa Yoshifuji, ‘Minamoto Yoshitsune Fighting Benkei on Gojo Bridge,’ 1854, Oban diptych, signed ‘Ipposai Yoshifuji ga.’ Estimate: $2,000-$2,500

Utagawa Yoshitora was a designer of ukiyo-e Japanese woodblock prints and an illustrator of books and newspapers who was active from about 1850 to about 1880. In the print Pictures for the 53 Stations of Tokaido, he complements the illustration with calligraphy.

Utagawa Yoshitora, ‘Calligraphy and Pictures for the 53 Stations of the Tokaido,’ 1872, Oban tate-e, signed ‘Yoshitora’ with artist seal, publisher’s seal: Sawamura Seikichi. Estimate: $1,500-$1,800

Utagawa Yoshitora, ‘Calligraphy and Pictures for the 53 Stations of the Tokaido,’ 1872, Oban tate-e, signed ‘Yoshitora’ with artist seal, publisher’s seal: Sawamura Seikichi. Estimate: $1,500-$1,800

Register now to bid in this week’s dynamic Japanese woodblock prints auction.

6 Japanese Woodblock Prints with Contemporary Touch

This weekend we are presenting the biggest auction of Japanese woodblock prints to date. Approximately 170 woodblock prints spanning the 19th century to the present will be going up for bids.

Featuring names like Hiroshige and Yoshida, this sale reveals nuanced techniques and traditional Japanese values. Whether capturing the serenity of a temple or a moonlit ocean, these images exemplify both fine art and elegant decoration.

It may come as a surprise, but not all Japanese woodblock prints are created by native Japanese. A few were Western artists who mastered woodblock printing while working there.

A living artist represented in the auction is Daniel Kelly, an American based in Kyoto, Japan. He works primarily in painting and printmaking. His 2015 print titled Red Hook was done in the chine-colle technique, which pulls fine details off the plate.

Daniel Kelly, ‘Red Hook,’ 2015, Japanese woodblock print, chine colle, 36 x 40 inches, edition size of 90. Estimate: $2,000-$2,200

Daniel Kelly, ‘Red Hook,’ 2015, Japanese woodblock print, chine colle, 36 x 40 inches, edition size of 90. Estimate: $2,000-$2,200

Another was Paul Jacoulet (1902-1960), a Parisian artist who spent most of his life in Japan and is recognized for his work in Japanese woodblock printing. Here you’ll see his print of Ebisu, Dieu du Bonheur Personnifie.

Paul Jacoulet, ‘Ebisu, Dieu du Bonheur Personnifie,’ 1952. Estimate: $1,000-$1,400

Paul Jacoulet, ‘Ebisu, Dieu du Bonheur Personnifie,’ 1952. Estimate: $1,000-$1,400

Yet another contemporary artist whose work is featured in the auction is Katsunori Hamanishi. His Two Poems mezzotint print is accented in gold leaf.

Katsunori Hamanishi (b. 1949), ‘Two Poems,’ 2015, mezzotint and gold leaf, edition size 70. Estimate: $1,100-$1,200

Katsunori Hamanishi (b. 1949), ‘Two Poems,’ 2015, mezzotint and gold leaf, edition size 70. Estimate: $1,100-$1,200

Kiyoshi Saito (1907-1997) was a Japanese sosaku hanga artist. He was one of the first Japanese printmakers to win at the Sao Paulo Biennale in 1951. His 1967 woodblock print titled Onri An Kyoto D, 1967, is one of the low-key highlights in the sale.

Kiyoshi Saito, ‘Onri An Kyoto D,’ 1967, edition size 100. Estimate: $1,000-$1,100

Kiyoshi Saito, ‘Onri An Kyoto D,’ 1967, edition size 100. Estimate: $1,000-$1,100

Keisai Eisen (1790-1848) was a Japanese ukiyo-e artist who specialized in bijin-ga print designs of beautiful women. In addition to producing a prolific number of prints, he was also a writer. His woodblock prints, Sumida River, is featured in the auction.

Keisai Eisen, ‘Sumida River,’ ‘Famous Views of Edo and Beauties Compared,’ 1830s. Estimate: $1,300-$1,500

Keisai Eisen, ‘Sumida River,’ ‘Famous Views of Edo and Beauties Compared,’ 1830s. Estimate: $1,300-$1,500

Finally, a famous triptych by Utagawa Kuniyoshi recalls the legend of Shuten-doji and Minamoto no Yorimitsu. Shuten-doji was a dreaded ogre who preyed upon Kyoto, kidnapping young women and eating all men who ventured into his realm. The print depicts how the emperor’s greatest warrior prevailed over the oni after a great battle.

Utagawa Kuniyoshi, ‘Minamoto no Yorimitsu and Shuten-doji,’ triptych, 19th century. Estimate: $4,000-$6,000

Utagawa Kuniyoshi, ‘Minamoto no Yorimitsu and Shuten-doji,’ triptych, 19th century. Estimate: $4,000-$6,000

View the fully illustrated catalog of Japanese woodblock prints and register to bid.