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[Tokyo 1887, Iwamoto]. Stitched orange wrs., 4 volume set, English subtitles, covers a bit dusty, scuffed, a minor bit of old worming, else contents very clean, solid and firm in cloth case, complete set of 4, 17.5 x 25.5 cm. FIRST EDITION . *** **** *** . . . KYOSAI'S SUI GENERIS . . . HIS MOST FAMOUS BOOK OF "PAINTING STYLES" . . . . PROFUSELY COLOR ILLLUSTRATED WOODBLOCK PRINTED . . . COMPLETE SET OF 4 VOLUMES . . * Profusely illustrated by woodblock printing, in color & Sumi, some illustrations are delicately hand-tinted in pastel gouache. A marvelous work with examples of the various "schools" of Japanese [& Chinese style] painting, of well-known artists. . Includes instruction in the art & genealogies of painters, etc. Also an interesting portion illustrating various incidents of Kyosai's life. . * THE ARTIST: KAWANABE KYOSAI [1831-1889]: . Kyosai was a Japanese artist, in the words of a critic, "an individualist and an independent, perhaps the last virtuoso in traditional Japanese painting." . "Kyosai was a Kano painter, printmaker, illustrator, son of a Samurai. Studied under the great Utagawa Kuniyoshi, then later under Maemura Towa and Kano Tohaku Chinshin, who gave him the name Toiku when he was 19. Lived and worked in the Hongo area of Edo [old Tokyo]. Said to have done some of his best work while under the influence of Sake. Exhibited in Vienna International Exhibition in 1873, and again in Paris in 1883. A distinguished painter, marked by a wild, eccentric humor, left many sketches of great dexterity and draftsmanship, and superb copies of other artist's work not as a form of fake or forgeries, but in tribute to their great talent and style. This book for example is a tribute to a grand number of other artists, their style, and to his own unique style of drawing. A marvelous artists and well collected by world museums, institutions and private collectors. His sense of humor is unmatched, and his ability to express his feelings in drawings was superb ! See Roberts below. . *** This work shows a large variety of his works, Buddhist themes & saints, Zen monks, Kannon, Monks, Bodhi Dharma, Buddhist temple Demons, temple & shrine protectors, Gods, icons & holy images. . Military, Samurai, warriors, swords, battle scenes, horses & armor. Edo period genre of ordinary people, landscapes, animals, birds, insects, hawks, fish, dragons, monkeys, cats, turtles & bats. . Bizarre and scary demons, ghosts, devils & monsters of all varieties, nightmares. . Festivals, painter & artist's workshop, scroll painters, court officials, men & women of all classes: courtiers, merchants, famous Geisha & prostitutes. Folk-lore, medical anatomical drawings, with many examples of various artists painting 'styles,' including classical Chinese heroes and historical figures, women, heroes & the like. . *** A UNIQUE WORK: . What makes this book highly unusual and unique is not only the large number of drawings, but the accompanying English text and captions telling of the style of different artists that Kyosai emulated. Few if any such resources exist from this time period in English that show the drawing and artistic styles of other Japanese [and a few Chinese] artists. The work is monumental, and shows the true sense of good humor Kyosai had. His light-hearted nature is reflected in his caring exposition of art styles. No other single work by Kyosai is so diverse. . *** COMPLETE WORK: . The complete work consists of 4 volumes: Volumes 1, 2: Naihen 2 volumes first series: Part a.: 39 sheets Part b.: 40 sheets. Volumes 3, 4: Gaihen 2 volumes second series 2: Part c: 36 sheets Part d: 36 sheets. . Each "sheet" is a double-folded page. Nearly all of the pages are illustrated. Some are single images on a page, other pages have 2 or as many as 4 illustrations per page. The entire work was woodcut printed on hand-made Washi paper. . *** UNIQUE EARLY WORK WITH ENGLISH TEXTS: . The help of Josiah CONDER [1852-1920], was a British subject, teacher in Ja.
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