Thom
@thomaspden.bsky.social
Latest: Utagawa Toyokuni V, a memorial portrait of Ichikawa Danjuro IX parodying the Buddhist nirvana, surrounded by actors, and dreaming of the deceased in heaven awaiting him, published 18th of September 1903.
December 12, 2025 at 2:04 PM
Latest: Utagawa Toyokuni V, a memorial portrait of Ichikawa Danjuro IX parodying the Buddhist nirvana, surrounded by actors, and dreaming of the deceased in heaven awaiting him, published 18th of September 1903.
Katsukawa Shunsho, two pages from Ehon Butai Ogi showing Nakajima Kanzaemon and Ichikawa Danzo III. C. 1770.
November 29, 2025 at 12:01 PM
Katsukawa Shunsho, two pages from Ehon Butai Ogi showing Nakajima Kanzaemon and Ichikawa Danzo III. C. 1770.
Possibly an early design by Eishosai Choki, Nakamura Nakazo and probably Ichikawa Yaozo III, roles unidentified but maybe some version of Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami, c. 1780s.
November 29, 2025 at 11:57 AM
Possibly an early design by Eishosai Choki, Nakamura Nakazo and probably Ichikawa Yaozo III, roles unidentified but maybe some version of Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami, c. 1780s.
Katsukawa Shunsho, page from Ehon Butai Ogi depicting Sakata Sojuro I as Kakogawa Honzo from the Chushingura, c. 1770.
November 9, 2025 at 10:33 PM
Katsukawa Shunsho, page from Ehon Butai Ogi depicting Sakata Sojuro I as Kakogawa Honzo from the Chushingura, c. 1770.
Utagawa Toyokuni I, the actor Bando Mitsugoro III in seven roles of the Chushingura play at the Nakamra-za, c. 1822.
November 9, 2025 at 10:32 PM
Utagawa Toyokuni I, the actor Bando Mitsugoro III in seven roles of the Chushingura play at the Nakamra-za, c. 1822.
Attributed to Kitao Masanobu, a lady kneeling tuning a samisen in front of Benten, goddess of music and love, c. 1780.
October 19, 2025 at 3:41 PM
Attributed to Kitao Masanobu, a lady kneeling tuning a samisen in front of Benten, goddess of music and love, c. 1780.
Katsukawa Shunsho, Ichikawa Danjuro V as a samurai besides a a sake kettle with his sword - role unidentified, c.1780.
October 18, 2025 at 9:36 AM
Katsukawa Shunsho, Ichikawa Danjuro V as a samurai besides a a sake kettle with his sword - role unidentified, c.1780.
Katsukawa Shunko, the actor Ichikawa Yaozo III as the Tsukamoto fox (disguised as Kusunoki Uraminosuke) in the premier of the play Meoto Gitsune, 1786.
October 18, 2025 at 9:34 AM
Katsukawa Shunko, the actor Ichikawa Yaozo III as the Tsukamoto fox (disguised as Kusunoki Uraminosuke) in the premier of the play Meoto Gitsune, 1786.
Torii Kiyomasu, the actor Ichikawa Monnosuke I as a fan seller, published by Igaya Kan'emon, c. 1715/1720. Formerly in the Frank Lloyd Wright collection, sold as lot 1 in the Blanch Mcfetridge collection sale, Sotheby's 1969, bought by a person named Davison for $60.
September 19, 2025 at 5:34 PM
Torii Kiyomasu, the actor Ichikawa Monnosuke I as a fan seller, published by Igaya Kan'emon, c. 1715/1720. Formerly in the Frank Lloyd Wright collection, sold as lot 1 in the Blanch Mcfetridge collection sale, Sotheby's 1969, bought by a person named Davison for $60.
Hishikawa Moronobu, hand coloured page from Sugata-e hyakunin issue, c. 1695.
September 12, 2025 at 8:25 PM
Hishikawa Moronobu, hand coloured page from Sugata-e hyakunin issue, c. 1695.
Urakusai Nagahide, premier of the play Hakone Reign Izari no Adauchi having Fujikawa Tomokichi I as Hatsuhana, Asao Kuzaemon I as Sato Gosuke, and Arashi Sangoro as Iinuma Katsugoro, published by Honken-ban, 1801.
September 12, 2025 at 8:21 PM
Urakusai Nagahide, premier of the play Hakone Reign Izari no Adauchi having Fujikawa Tomokichi I as Hatsuhana, Asao Kuzaemon I as Sato Gosuke, and Arashi Sangoro as Iinuma Katsugoro, published by Honken-ban, 1801.
Katsukawa Shunsho, Nakamura Nashio as the courtesan Yamabuki, published by Nishimura Yohachi, c. 1772. Formerly in the Paul Blondeau collection.
August 30, 2025 at 12:50 PM
Katsukawa Shunsho, Nakamura Nashio as the courtesan Yamabuki, published by Nishimura Yohachi, c. 1772. Formerly in the Paul Blondeau collection.
Meirindo Kakujujo, Kawasaki Gonjuro as Sukeroku and Nakamura Shikan as Soga no Juro from the play Sukeroku, published by Omiya Kyujiro, c. 1860. Kakushijo was a female artist and a student of Sadakame, who was in turn a student of Toyokuni III.
July 30, 2025 at 7:36 PM
Meirindo Kakujujo, Kawasaki Gonjuro as Sukeroku and Nakamura Shikan as Soga no Juro from the play Sukeroku, published by Omiya Kyujiro, c. 1860. Kakushijo was a female artist and a student of Sadakame, who was in turn a student of Toyokuni III.
A small black and white print by an unknown artist, depicting Sugawara no Michizane. Early 19th century
July 30, 2025 at 7:30 PM
A small black and white print by an unknown artist, depicting Sugawara no Michizane. Early 19th century
My most recent print, both to me and when it was made: Paul Binnie, Ichikawa Ennosuke III as Nikki Danjo in Meiboku Sendai Hagi, drawn, carved and printed by the artist in 1996. Says 28/100, but allegedly he only printed 42 copies before destroying the blocks.
July 25, 2025 at 5:52 PM
My most recent print, both to me and when it was made: Paul Binnie, Ichikawa Ennosuke III as Nikki Danjo in Meiboku Sendai Hagi, drawn, carved and printed by the artist in 1996. Says 28/100, but allegedly he only printed 42 copies before destroying the blocks.
Hishikawa School, a painting of three men, one holding a pine branch, probably late 17th or early 18th century.
July 7, 2025 at 6:15 PM
Hishikawa School, a painting of three men, one holding a pine branch, probably late 17th or early 18th century.
Utagawa Kunimasa, 16 portraits of actors and their crests, published by Nishimura Yohachi, c. 1805.
July 4, 2025 at 8:27 PM
Utagawa Kunimasa, 16 portraits of actors and their crests, published by Nishimura Yohachi, c. 1805.
And the final two, my favourites: shunsho again; Ichikawa Benzo I (Monnosuke II) and Matsumoto Koshiro III (Ichikawa Danjuro V) in Ima o Asagao Suehiro Genji, and Nakamura Sukegoro as Kaminari Shokuro one of the five chivalrous commoners (Jururi Gonin Otoko), both c. 1768.
July 2, 2025 at 11:10 PM
And the final two, my favourites: shunsho again; Ichikawa Benzo I (Monnosuke II) and Matsumoto Koshiro III (Ichikawa Danjuro V) in Ima o Asagao Suehiro Genji, and Nakamura Sukegoro as Kaminari Shokuro one of the five chivalrous commoners (Jururi Gonin Otoko), both c. 1768.
Another 3: Shunsho again; Segawa Kikunojo III as a referee in an arena c. 1778, Iwai Hanshiro IV as a lady in the snow by a gate c. 1780, and Nakamura Noshio I in a stone bridge or lion dance c. 1772
July 2, 2025 at 11:06 PM
Another 3: Shunsho again; Segawa Kikunojo III as a referee in an arena c. 1778, Iwai Hanshiro IV as a lady in the snow by a gate c. 1780, and Nakamura Noshio I in a stone bridge or lion dance c. 1772
Next 4: Katsukawa shunsho; Arashi Sangoro III as Asahina c. 1773, Ichikawa Monnosuke II as Daito no Miya c. 1772, same actor as Shiragiku c.1773, and Yamashita Kinsaku II as Moshio holding a child c. 1772.
July 2, 2025 at 11:02 PM
Next 4: Katsukawa shunsho; Arashi Sangoro III as Asahina c. 1773, Ichikawa Monnosuke II as Daito no Miya c. 1772, same actor as Shiragiku c.1773, and Yamashita Kinsaku II as Moshio holding a child c. 1772.
Got a bunch of prints from Germany, so here's the first 3: Nishikawa Sukenobu, 2 double pages from Ehon Chiomikusa, depicting women looking at birds in flight (c. 1750), and a hand coloured image of a lady carrying flowers, c. 1730
July 2, 2025 at 10:54 PM
Got a bunch of prints from Germany, so here's the first 3: Nishikawa Sukenobu, 2 double pages from Ehon Chiomikusa, depicting women looking at birds in flight (c. 1750), and a hand coloured image of a lady carrying flowers, c. 1730
Okumura Masanobu, Sugawara no Michizane seated beneath a pine and plum tree, c.1740.
June 19, 2025 at 7:02 PM
Okumura Masanobu, Sugawara no Michizane seated beneath a pine and plum tree, c.1740.
Isoda Koryusai, a young man looking at a lady through a gate in the snow, published by Urokogataya Magobei, c. 1771.
May 31, 2025 at 2:30 PM
Isoda Koryusai, a young man looking at a lady through a gate in the snow, published by Urokogataya Magobei, c. 1771.
Utagawa Toyokuni II, Iwai Hanshiro VI in the role of Oseki, published by Yamaguchia Tobei, c. 1834.
May 23, 2025 at 7:51 PM
Utagawa Toyokuni II, Iwai Hanshiro VI in the role of Oseki, published by Yamaguchia Tobei, c. 1834.
Hishikawa Moronobu, page from the book One Hundred Poems About One Hundred Poets, c.1695.
May 22, 2025 at 8:02 PM
Hishikawa Moronobu, page from the book One Hundred Poems About One Hundred Poets, c.1695.