The Ronin Gallery

"Beauty of the Winding Stream Banquet" by Kunisada, printed in c.1840. This -e, or fan print, would be cut and pasted onto a bamboo fan frame to keep one cool in the summer heat. was considered the most popular and prolific artist of his time. He purportedly surpassed both and in his acclaim and productivity. Many of his works became overnight successes and he was considered the “star attraction” of the Utagawa school. He signed his works “Kunisada” until 1844, when he adopted the name .

View this print and more in the online exhibition "Signed Kunisada" here: https://www.roningallery.com/exhibitions/Signed-Kunisada?show=48

"Azuma Shrine and the Entwined Camphor" by Hiroshige, printed in 1856. Hiroshige's series "One Hundred Famous Views of Edo" captures not merely the famous sights of the city, but the residents and rituals that brought the city to life. Between natural beauty and urban scenery, changing seasons and local celebrations, creates a veritable microcosm of Edo life with each woodblock print.

Las week to view the exhibition in gallery! Checkout the show online here: https://www.roningallery.com/exhibitions/One-Hundred-Famous-Views-of-Edo?show=48

"Kyo Meisho - Shimabara" by Clifton Karhu, printed in 1975. In 1963, Karhu moved to Kyoto. Immersed in the city’s vibrant artistic community, he began a successful career in woodblock printmaking. His self-carved and self-printed works portray traditional style houses and architectural details. Deeply expressive, yet precise and geometric, Karhu's style earned him enormous popularity worldwide.When asked about his medium, he states: “In Kyoto the vertical and horizontal lines of the tile roofs and the latticed windows strike a special harmony, like something alive. In my prints of Kyoto, I always strive to express this human warmth. Since wood accounts for much of Kyoto’s beauty, it may also be the best way that beauty can be expressed - through woodblock prints.”

View more works by here:
https://www.roningallery.com/artists/karhu-clifton/custitemavailable_in_stock/Available

"Kinokunizaka in the Rainy Season" by Shiro Kasamatsu, designed in 1938. While Shiro Kasamatsu is best known for his Shin Hanga woodblock prints, he began his artistic career as a painter. A pupil of Kiyokata Kaburagi, Shiro actively exhibited his work in Bunten and Teiten, as well as other official exhibitions. In 1919, Kiyokata urged his student to design woodblock prints for the famed Shin Hanga publisher Shozaburo Watanabe. Along with the works of Hasui, Shotei and others, Watanabe published many of Shiro’s designs in the 1930s.

View this design and more works by here: https://www.roningallery.com/artists/Shiro

"Night Rain at the Gankiro" by Yosh*tora, printed in 1861. From our newest online exhibition "Yokohama and Beyond." In 1853, the arrival of Commodore Perry’s black ships brought over 250 years of Japanese isolation to an abrupt end. The following year, as Japan engaged in international trade, ukiyo-e artists captured the influx of unfamiliar peoples, places, and things through Yokohama-e. As these woodblock prints considered foreign arrivals, kaika-e (enlightenment pictures) captured the rapid modernization of Japan. From Western-style clothes and pastimes, to exciting new inventions from overseas, together these genres explored a changing world through a familiar medium.

View the exhibition here: https://www.roningallery.com/exhibitions/Yokohama-and-Beyond?show=48

“Poem by Ariwara Narihira Ason: Lu Zhishen, the Tattooed Priest” by Kuniyoshi (b.1797), printed in 1845. This work from Kuniyoshi’s series “100 Poems by 100 Poets,” depicts the anti-hero Kaosho Rochishin, also known as Lu Zhishen in Chinese. The legend of Kaosho Rochishin originates from the famous Chinese novel The Water Margin, which was later localized in Japan in 1773 as Suikoden. He is identifiable by his burly build and plum blossom tattoos. This scene captures Rochishin’s strength and defiance as he dismantles the statue of Kongo Rikishi at his old monastery on Mt. Godai.

View this work and more by Kuniyoshi here: https://www.roningallery.com/artists/Kuniyoshi

“Kanasugi Bridge and Shibaura” by , printed in 1857. This piece from Hiroshige’s masterwork series “100 Famous Views of Edo” portrays two pilgrimages of Nichiren buddhists, crossing paths at Kanasugi Bridge on the outskirts of Edo. The travelers wave bamboo poles adorned with cotton towels and banners decorated with invocations.

View this design and more here: https://www.roningallery.com/exhibitions/One-Hundred-Famous-Views-of-Edo

“12 Noon: Posing for a Photograph” by *toshi, printed in 1880. Considered one of the last great masters of ukiyo-e, Tsukioka Yosh*toshi (b.1839) worked as a print artist through the end of the Edo and mid-Meiji periods, capturing Japan in an era of transition. This bijin-ga (pictures of beautiful women) portrays the subject as she poses for a camera, the newest and most accessible way to capture one's likeness. In the cartouche, Tentendō Shujin writes: "I wish I were a mirror/ And had its half/ Of that beautiful face,/ And Envy the photographer his art/ Through which he can meet/ And stare at it so closely…”

Learn more about Yosh*toshi and view more of his work here!
https://www.roningallery.com/artists/Yosh*toshi

*toshi *toshi

“The Syllable: No: Hayano Wasuke Fujiwara no Tsunenari” by *tora, printed 1864. This week’s online exhibition celebrates the Japanese warrior spirit through Yosh*tora’s series of The 47 Ronin. This classic tale tells of the heroic escapades of the famous 47 ronin, or masterless retainers, and their plot to avenge their master who had been sentenced to death by seppuku.
This chuban (half-size) series presents each of the faithful warriors in a striking pose, wielding their weapon of choice.

Read more about the story of the 47 Ronin here: https://www.roningallery.com/exhibitions/The-Warrior-Spirit?show=48

#忠臣蔵

"The Village of Yoshida" by Hiroshi Yoshida, printed in 1926. Hiroshi Yoshida was widely traveled and knowledgeable of Western aesthetics, yet maintained an allegiance to traditional Japanese techniques and traditions. Attracted by the calmer moments of nature, his woodblock prints breathe coolness, invite meditation, and set a soft, peaceful mood.

View this print and other designs in our collection here: https://www.roningallery.com/artists/yoshida-hiroshi/custitemavailable_in_stock/Available

Center panel of "Night Cherry Blossom Viewing" by Toyokuni III, printed in c.1947. This week Ronin Gallery presents an exhibition of 19th century Genji-inspired triptychs. Amid sprawling landscapes and lush interiors, fashionable figures enjoy seasonal pleasures and offer literary allusions in this collection of Genji-inspired designs. In the early 19th century, the “shining prince” of the 11th-century classic Tale of Genji was reimagined as the contemporary, charismatic pl***oy Mitsuuji in a popular serial novel. The novel was an enormous success and sparked a craze for anything Genji. Printed with lavish embellishments and vividly preserved colors, many of these triptychs are pristine—as lavish in condition as the scenes they depict.

View the exhibition here: https://www.roningallery.com/exhibitions/The-Lavish-World-of-Genji~e%3A-19th~century-Triptychs?show=48

#源氏物語

From paintings to prints, Hideo Takeda’s artistic output is defined by its persistent flexibility, adaptation, and thrill of surprise. Combining the aesthetics of traditional , western cartoons, and textile patterns, his work is boldly graphic, often surreal, and subtly beautiful. In 1993, (b. 1948) enjoyed a one-man show at the and today his work can be found in the permanent collections of prestigious institutions worldwide. Ronin Gallery is pleased to present a selection of Takeda's paintings and prints, including a series of (firemen) battling flaming dragons and scenes from the .

View Takeda's new works here: https://www.roningallery.com/artists/takeda-hideo?show=48

#武田秀雄

"Fukagawa Lumberyards" by Hiroshige, printed in 1856. from the series "One Hundred Famous Views of Edo." ’s work had a profound influence on the and Post-Impressionists of Europe: was fascinated with Hiroshige’s daring diagonal compositions and inventive use of perspective, while literally copied two of Hiroshige's prints from the famous series, in oil paint.

View this design and more in our newest gallery exhibition here: https://www.roningallery.com/exhibitions/One-Hundred-Famous-Views-of-Edo

" Bridge and Bridge" by , printed in 1857. Select Works from Hiroshige's One Hundred Famous Views of Edo is now on view! From blushing cherry trees at Ueno to the crowded streets of Saruwaka-machi, Edo’s thriving theater district, One Hundred Famous Views of Edo (1856-1858) portrays the spirit of Japan’s 19th-century cultural capital in all its dynamic splendor. 's series captures not merely the famous sights of the city, but the residents and rituals that brought the city to life. Between natural beauty and urban scenery, changing seasons and local celebrations, Hiroshige creates a veritable microcosm of Edo life with each .

View the exhibition here: https://www.roningallery.com/exhibitions/One-Hundred-Famous-Views-of-Edo

Make an offer now in our spring consignment sale! From landscapes by , , and , to the warriors of and *toshi, this consignment sale crosses genres, movements, and styles. This selection has been priced according to rarity, artist, design, and condition, however, because the owners wish to sell as quickly as possible all reasonable offers will be considered. So make an offer - maybe today will be your lucky day!

View the sale here: https://www.roningallery.com/exhibitions/Spring-Consignment-Sale?show=48

"Raising Wind and Rain Competition between and " by *tsuya, printed 1856. A 19th-century ukiyo-e printmaker and illustrator, Yosh*tsuya was a pupil of . Growing up during the late , Yosh*tsuya experienced the sharp decline of the political stability that defined the early Edo period. As the 1840s brought famine and economic despair, the introduced the Tenpo Reforms (1841-1842). These edicts banned the depiction of actors and courtesans in ukiyo-e in an effort to remove the "luxury" from printmaking. Unhindered by these restrictions, Yosh*tsuya's work focuses mainly on triumphant warriors of and legend.

View this work here: https://www.roningallery.com/Raising-Wind-and-Rain-Competition-between-Dragon-and-Tiger

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Raising Wind and Rain Competition between Dragon and Tiger For the largest collection of 17th-21st century Japanese woodblock prints and contemporary Japanese art visit Ronin Gallery in NYC today!

"Irises" by Bakufu Ohno, printed in 1949.. worked as a painter and woodblock printmaker in the first half of the 20th century. Though he was primarily a painter, he completed over seventy woodblock print designs during his lifetime. Kyoto Hanga-In published several of his series of fish designs. set himself apart from his contemporaries in his style and diversity of genre. He is known for both his delicately composed and scientifically accurate studies of fish, as well as a number of highly accomplished landscape and nature studies.

View this week's exhibition "A Flower for Your Mother" here: https://www.roningallery.com/exhibitions/A-Flower-for-Your-Mother?show=48

#花菖蒲 #菖蒲 #あやめ

Kuchi-e were frontispiece illustrations for novels and literary magazines. Brimming with wistful beauties and romantic allusions, kuchi-e reinvigorated the woodblock print medium around the turn of the 20th century. As kuchi-e designers found inspiration in Western artists and ukiyo-e masters alike, these prints offer nuanced color alongside the subtle use of burnishing and metallic pigment. Since kuchi-e were folded to fit within their books, it is normal for these prints to bear one or two creases.

View the exhibition here: https://www.roningallery.com/exhibitions/Kuchi~e%3A-Portraying-the-Narrative?show=48

1."Stream and Beauty" by Toshimine, printed in c.1905
2. "Hydrangea and Beauty" by , printed in c.1906.
3. "Letters" by , printed in c. 1911.

#竹久夢二

"Warabi: Inuyama Dosetsu" by Kuniyoshi, printed in 1852. From the series "Sixty-nine Stations of the Kisokaido." This design depicts the hero Inuyama Dosetsu in the well-known story Eight Dogs of Satomi, igniting a magical fire. The cartouche is bordered with adorable puppies as a playful pun on "inu" or dog, in Inuyama.

View this work and more here: https://www.roningallery.com/artists/Kuniyoshi/custitemavailable_in_stock/Available

#里見八犬伝

"The Sun in Autumn" by Dan Shan, printed in 2005. Ronin Gallery is pleased to present a collection of work by some of China’s most exciting contemporary printmakers. Representing talents from the 1980s to today, this collection spans four decades of inspiration and innovation in print. From the surreal landscapes of to the layered still life compositions of , the artists in this exhibition demonstrate the versatility of the print medium. Many of the works come from a single private collection, while those of come directly from the artist’s studio.

View the collection here: https://www.roningallery.com/exhibitions/Contemporary-Chinese-Prints?show=48

"Asakusa Ricefield and Torinomachi Festival" by Hiroshige, printed in 1857. While Hiroshige's series Fifty-three Stations of the Tokaido is marked by a humor grounded in its travelers, One Hundred Famous Views of Edo reduces human figures to compositional elements rather that empathetic characters. Yet this does not mean that the series lacks human presence. Rather than capture the residents of the city through their likeness depicted in the frame, evokes their presence through the objects they have left behind. Though the actor is absent, these items create the sense that someone has left for a moment, sure to return if you watch for long enough.

View this print and more designs by Hiroshige here: https://www.roningallery.com/Asakusa-Ricefield-and-Torinomachi-Festival

"Carrion Crow on Snow-covered Willow at Dawn" by Shoson. Ohara (aka or ) was a master of early 20th century kacho-e (bird-and-flower pictures).With meticulous detail, soft color, and a palpable reverence for flora and fauna, carried the genre into the modern era. His earliest and rarest designs were notable for their narrow formats and soft colors. All designed brfore 1912 were signed or sealed Koson. A majority of them were published by Kokkeido and Daikokuya. After 1912, he changed his name to Shoson and dedicated himself to painting. Ten years later, Koson returned to . In 1926, Koson began designing woodblock prints for the famed publisher Shozaburo Watanabe. Koson changed his name once again, this time to Hoson, when he produced designs collaboratively published by Sakai and Kawaguchi around 1930.

Learn more and view this print here: https://www.roningallery.com/Carrion-Crow-on-Snow-covered-Willow-at-Dawn

☀️☀️☀️"99% of Solar Eclipse on the 19th of August, 1887" by Kunisada III, printed in July 1887. A symbol of its national identity, the Japanese have always revered the sun and associated it with the sun-goddess Amaterasu oomikami, the deity of all life and the universe. Ancient Shinto mythology saw solar eclipses as inauspicious and something to be feared, believing poison would drip from the sky. It is said the emperor, believed to be a descendent of the sun-goddess, would hide behind locked doors to protect himself from the danger outside. It seems that attitudes towards the solar eclipse shifted during the Meiji Period, as Kunisada III designed this informative print a month before the 1887 eclipse. The text box notes the exact time and that it could be seen from Sado in Niigata Prefecture to Shirakawa in Fukushima Prefecture.

"Robin and Wild Cherry, (No. 12)" by Sugakudo, printed in 1859. Among winding vines and pastel petals, Sugakudo Nakayama presents a variety of birds that hop beneath the brush and perch high within the canopy. A student of , established himself as a leading artist of (bird-and-flower prints) during the mid-19th century. The in this week's exhibition belong to his famous series, Forty-Eight Hawks Drawn from Life (1859). Published by Koeido in 1859, these prints are acclaimed for their realistic rendering of the natural world, as well as their delicacy of color, fine embossing, and high-technical quality. Designs from this series can be found in collections such as , , .

View the collection here: https://www.roningallery.com/exhibitions/Sugakudo%27s-Birds

"Okano Ginemon Kanehide" by Kuniyoshi, printed in c.1847. from the series "Biographies of the Loyal Retainers" depicting the 47 Ronin. Okano Ginemon Kanehide was not brought up for a military career, however he wielded his weapon with marvelous skill on the night of the attack. On the night of the attack, there was no one who surpassed him in valor. His katana was a Tomohisa with a length of 2-shaku 4-sun and his wakizashi was a michinaga.

View more prints from this series here: https://www.roningallery.com/artists/Kuniyoshi/custitem8/Biographies-of-the-Loyal-Retainers/custitemavailable_in_stock/Available

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artists often drew inspiration from the same folktales, plays, and legends. In this design, *toshi depicts , or the Heron Maiden. The tale goes that one day, a young man saves an injured heron and shortly after, he meets a beautiful girl who later becomes his wife. It turns out that this woman has an exceptional talent for weaving, bringing prosperity and wealth to the couple. The woman's only request was that the man never look in the room while she is at work. One day, he defies her wishes and looks in to watch her at the loom. Her disguise exposed, the woman turns back into a heron and flies away.

View this design and more by Yosh*toshi here: https://www.roningallery.com/heron-maiden_3

*tosh*tsukioka

Regarded as a major landscape artist of the 20th century, ’s prints are characterized by their serenity of mood and flawless composition. traveled widely in Japan and his subjects consisted mostly of his surroundings. These Japanese landscape prints are based upon small, quick sketches and watercolors taken from nature.

1. "Yakumo Bridge at Nagata Shrine, " designed 1930.
2. "The Road to " designed 1930.
3. "Nissaka on the Road" designed in 1942.

View and purchase these new lifetime designs here: https://www.roningallery.com/artists/Hasui

#巴水 #川瀬巴水

"Meigetsuin, Kamakura" by Kazuyuki Ohtsu. Kazuyuki Ohtsu is a contemporary woodblock print artist. Born in 1935 in Isezaki City in Gunma Prefecture, he began woodblock printmaking in 1954. In 1958, he became the assistant to Kiyoshi Saito (1907-1977), a prominent artist of the Sosaku Hanga ("creative print") movement, a position he held until Saito's death. Following his teacher's death, Ohtsu focused on his own prints. Similarities between the two artists can be seen in their geometric compositions and rich texture. Many of Ohtsu’s prints depicts natural scenes.

View more in our newest online exhibition "Hooray! It's Spring" here: https://www.roningallery.com/exhibitions/Hooray%2C-It%27s-Spring%21?show=48

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