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.

96 - Yoshiyuki: Hido Hachiro holding a head

Yoshiyuki: Hido Hachiro holding a head

This shows Hido Hachiro holding a head, a print from about 1868 by Mori Yoshiyuki (1835-1879). The scene is from Mirror of Our Country’s Military Elegance [Honchô buyû kagami, 本朝武優鏡].

95 - Unknown Artist: Uki-e

Unknown Artist: Uki-e

In this picture, perspective is used to create a sense of depth. Such a picture is called an uki-e. The first Japanese artist to apply uki-e in nishiki-e, that is, using perspective in a full colour woodblock print, was Toyoharu, the founder of the Utagawa school. This picture, however, is a painting and the artist is unknown. It is probably from the end of the 18th century.

The motive is a puppet performance.

If you look carefully to the right, you'll see that there is something wrong with the perspective. The artist has made a mistake.