Japanese Woodblock Prints

"The Barry Rosensteel Japanese Print Collection consists of 126 woodblock prints that date from the eighteenth to early twentieth centuries. The work of over forty artists is represented in the collection [..]

The images portray Japanese culture through detailed depictions of portraits, landscapes, wildlife and theatrical performances, taking into account some of Japan’s rich history. [..]

The earliest print, dating to 1760, is by Kitao Shigemasa (1739-1820) and depicts a carp leaping a waterfall. The works of several artists of the Utagawa school are found in the collection. [..]

The prints were produced with high-quality paper. Vegetative color pigments, and, in some cases, ground precious metals, were used as part of the creative process."
[from: Collection Contents at the University of Pittsburgh]

Title: Eguchi no Kimi seated on a recumbent pink elephant representing the Bodhisattva Fugen
Creator: Sadahiro, Utagawa (active ca. 1825-1875)
Date: 1850




Title: Portrait of an actor in a purple robe on striped fan
Creator: Yoshiyuki, Mori (1835-1879)
Date: Unknown




Title: Okubi-e portrait of a beauty
Subjects: Block printing, Japanese; Geishas in art.
Creator: Chikanobu, Kitagawa
Date: Unknown




Title: Longevite
Creator: Jacoulet, Paul (1902-1960)
Date: November 28, 1948




Title: Portrait of Ichikawa Ebijuro (Japanese actor)
Creator: Umekuni, Toyokawa (active first quarter 19th century)
Date: 1820




Title: The courtesan Tsukonosuke with her attendant gazing at a cuckoo in the rain
Series: Thirty-six Manners and Customs of Courtesans
Creator: Toyokuni III, Utagawa [Utagawa Kunisada] (1786-1864)
Date: 1861




Title: Nakamura Utaemon III as Ichikawa Goemon
Creator: Ashiyuki
Date: 1826




Title: Swans
Creator: Shoson, Ohara (1877-1945)
Date: Unknown

Update: see - The Art of Ohara Shôson at Scriblets.




Title: Return from Festival (Matsuri kudari), Nakamura Utaemon on horseback accompanied by a group of five actors
Creator: Toyokuni, Utagawa (1769-1825)
Date: 1810
Note: One frame from triptych; prints depicting actors in everyday life are rare.




Title: A Daimyo's wife and her attendants fording a river in a palanquin
Creator: Toyokuni, Utagawa (1769-1825)
Date: 1794
Note: One frame from triptych




Title: Half-length portrait of an actor as Kaneomaru
Series: Edo meisho zue (Famous Views of Edo)
Creator: Kunisada, Utagawa (1786-1864)
Date: Unknown



The Barry Rosensteel Japanese Print Collection is available from the University of Pittsburgh [thumbnails].

Previously: Japan; from the delicious bookmarks - a collection of general category tags and brief summaries helping to organise all 1100+ BibliOdyssey posts.