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For a number of different reasons, I have decided to wind up the blogs Ukiyo-e of the Week and Japankonst. That is, I'm not going to publish new material. However, until further notice, they will remain available as works of reference and inspiration.

108 - Shunsen: Geisha entertaining a client at a teahouse garden

Shunsen: Geisha entertaining a client at a teahouse garden

Here is a scene from Japan at the time, Geisha entertaining a client at a teahouse garden, by Katsukawa Shunsen. This work is from the first decade of the 1800s.

107 - Shigeharu: Nakamura Utaemon III as Shōki

Shigeharu: Nakamura Utaemon III as Shōki

This is a yakusha-e from 1822-1826, which shows actor Nakamura Utaemon III as Shōki. It is from the series Seven Quick Changes (Shichihenge no uchi) by Ryusai Shigeharu, who lived 1802-1853.

Shōki, the Demon Queller, was a protector against demons and disease. Here he is red, in that colour he protected against smallpox.

106 - Hiroshige: Matching the World and Music

Hiroshige: Matching the World and Music

This is a rare and beautiful triptych by Hiroshige. The name of the print is Onkyoku sekai awase (Matching the World and Music). It was published 1849-1850.

105 - Ginkô: Disguised as Woman

Ginkô: Disguised as Woman

Here we have Disguised as Woman by Adachi Ginkô. It is from his most famous series: "Pictorial Outline of Japanese History (Dainippon shiryaku zue)",  published 1885-1889.

104 - Chikanobu: The brave wife of Shinozuka Iga no Kami standing on the bank of a lake

Chikanobu: The brave wife of Shinozuka Iga no Kami standing on the bank of a lake

This is "The brave wife of Shinozuka Iga no Kami standing on the bank of a lake", by Toyohara Chikanobu. The print is from1866.

Shinozuka Iga no Kami was a retainer of the Nitta no Yoshisada and the Nitta clan. His wife's name was Iga no Tsubone.

103 - Gakutei: Carp

Gakutei: Carp

This is Carp, a beautiful painting by Yashima Gakutei (1786-1868) from 1818-1830. Gakutei, technically a very skilled artist, was one of Hokusai's students.

102 - Shunsui: Furyu Utai Sambukutsui

Shunsui: Furyu Utai Sambukutsui

This print is A Triptych of Fashionable No Plays (Furyu Utai Sambukutsui) by Miyagawa Shunsui (active about 1740-1760), the founder of the Katsukawa school.  It is from the 1750s.

Shunsui, who didn't only make prints but was a painter as well, was the son and student of Miyagawa Chōshun.

101 - Shunkō: Matsumoto Kōshirō IV as Tsurunosuke

Shunkō: Matsumoto Kōshirō IV as Tsurunosuke

Katsukawa Shunkō (1743-1812) was the first artist who made okubi-e, so-called large head portraits. He is considered the creator of the genre.

Here we have an example of his art: Matsumoto Kōshirō IV as Tsurunosuke, a portrait of a kabuki actor in a specific role.

100 - Gekkō: The Gathering of 11 Generals

Gekkō: The Gathering of 11 Generals

Here is a triptych called The Battle at Tien-Chuang-Tai: The Gathering of 11 Generals [Denshôdai no yaku, shôkô jûichimei dôsho ni kai su], and is from  May, 1895. The artist is Ogata Gekkō.

Gekkō made many prints with motives from  the Sino-Japanese war, 1894-1895, which he witnessed as a war correspondent.

According to the script, the people on this picture are Yamaji, Chūjō (Lieutenant-General); Oshima Hisanao, Shōsō (Major-General); Nozu, Taishō (Marshal); Katsura, Chūjō; Nogi, Shōsō; Nishi, Shōsō; Oshima Yoshimasa, Shōsō; Oseko, Shōsō; Kuroda, Shōsō; Oku, Chūjō; Ogawa, Shōsō.

99 - Settei: Painting

Settei: Painting

This is a painting by Tsukioka Settei (1710-1786). Even if it is unsigned, there is no real doubt about the artist. As for dating, it must be from 1767-1773.

For the background, Settei used silver - although now strongly oxidised. It should resemble mirrors and it is likely that the woman was reflected there.

98 - Kōgyo: Dōjōji

Kōgyo: Dōjōji

Tsukioka Kōgyo (1869-1927) made this painting on silk. Among his teachers were as well Tsukioka Yoshitoshi as Ogata Gekkō. Yoshitoshi later adopted Kōgyo as his son.

Dojoji is a Noh play. Kōgyo occasionally made pictures with other motives, but most of his works are scenes from Noh theatre.

97 - Eishô: Front of Chojiya Pleasure House

Eishô: Front of Chojiya Pleasure House

Front of Chojiya Pleasure House is a triptych by Chôkôsai Eishô. It is from 1798.