Japanese Colour-Prints and Their Designers

by Frederick W. Gookin

HISHIKAWA MORONOBU

Moronobu, who was born probably in 1625 and died in 1695, was the first important Japanese artist to design prints. As a painter he is highly renowned. He illustrated many books and made a considerable number of single-sheet prints, which were all either in plain black or coloured by hand. His works are now very rare.[6]

LENT BY THE ESTATE OF FRANCIS LATHROP, DECEASED

1	Large sumi-yé (ink print). Matsukaze-Murasame; a nobleman and two ladies at the seashore watching two women dipping salt water in buckets.
2	Sumi-yé. A man and a woman seated on the floor of a room.
3	Sumi-yé. Woman reading from a book to a man reclining on the floor by her side. Near them a maid-servant and utensils containing refreshments.

LENT BY A COLLECTOR

4	Sumi-yé. Scene in the Yoshiwara.

TORII KIYONOBU

Founder of the Torii line and one of the leading artists of the Ukiyoé school. Inventor of the tan-yé, or prints coloured by hand with red lead (Japanese tan). He was born in 1664 and died on August 22, 1729. His style of drawing was characterized by great boldness and vigour.

LENT BY THE ESTATE OF FRANCIS LATHROP, DECEASED

5	Large tan-yé. The actor Dekijima Hanya as a woman seated upon a sakura tree in bloom.
6	Small tan-yé. The actor Ikushima Daikichi as a woman holding two small dogs.
7	Small tan-yé. The actor Kamimura Kichisaburo as a dancing-girl.
8	Large hand-coloured print. The actor Ikushima Daikichi as an oiran on parade, followed by OÌ tani Hiroji as a servant holding an umbrella over her.
9	Tall hand-coloured print. The actor Bando Hikosaburo.