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Collections

Kawanabe Kyōsai
Kyōsai’s Idle Drawings1881

Not on view
Small open Japanese woodblock-printed booklet with coral-red cover page bearing bold black kanji title and cream interior page densely filled with vertical columns of black text
Open Japanese woodblock-printed book with a circular vignette illustration of a dragon amid crashing waves and clouds on the left page, and columns of Japanese text on the right page, with a red spine visible.
Woodblock-printed illustrated book opened to a double-page spread, depicting multiple small figures in traditional Japanese robes in various dynamic poses, including courtiers, performers, and fantastical creature-like figures with swirling forms, rendered in fine black ink lines on cream paper, with a red spine visible at right.
Woodblock-printed sketchbook open to two pages, each divided into grid panels depicting figures including supernatural beings, birds, and fantastical creatures in fine ink line work on cream paper, with red binding at right.
Woodblock-printed illustrated book, open spread showing multiple small sketches of dynamic figures in flowing robes across both pages, with fine ink line work on aged paper; red fabric visible at spine edge.
Woodblock-printed illustrated book opened to a two-page spread, showing ink outline drawings of fantastical figures; left page depicts scattered studies of rotund, bald figures in various poses, and a long-haired robed figure; right page shows a densely composed group scene with demons, a fan-holding figure, and supernatural creatures.
Japanese woodblock-printed book, open spread showing two pages of dynamic figure compositions: groups of demons, supernatural beings, and small figures in energetic motion, rendered in fine black ink lines on cream paper, with red binding visible at right edge.
Japanese woodblock-printed book open to two pages; left page shows three vertical panels with figures including a seated woman and dynamic supernatural beings amid swirling forms; right page features a horizontal strip of two confronting lion-like creatures and two circular vignettes depicting a dragon amid clouds and figures beneath a structure, all in black ink on cream paper with red binding visible at right edge.
Japanese woodblock-printed sketchbook spread showing two pages of ink illustrations: left page depicts dynamic scenes of fantastical creatures and figures in combat amid swirling clouds; right page shows a grid of smaller studies featuring birds of prey, a rooster, and mythological beast figures, all rendered in fine black line work on cream paper, with red binding visible at right edge.
Woodblock-printed illustrated book open to two pages: left page shows large carp swimming through swirling waves above a riverside scene with animals and a boat; right page contains smaller vignettes of birds, an insect study, and two detailed fish rendered with fine line work.
Japanese woodblock-printed book open to two pages, each divided into multiple panels depicting supernatural and fantastical scenes with demons, animals, and figures in dynamic poses, rendered in black ink on cream paper with fine line work
Woodblock-printed illustrated book open to two pages, showing a grid of small scenes in black ink on cream paper featuring figures, supernatural creatures, and objects rendered in fine line work; red binding visible at right edge
Japanese woodblock-printed book opened to two pages, featuring ink illustrations of fantastical creatures and figures; left page shows a large scene with demons and animals amid vegetation, right page divided into six panels depicting supernatural beings, figures with umbrellas, and dynamic creature compositions in fine brushwork
Woodblock-printed illustrated book open to two pages; left page shows two robed figures flanking a large bell with vertical columns of Japanese text; right page displays circular and rectangular vignettes filled with birds, insects, fans, and shells rendered in fine black line.
Woodblock-printed illustrated book open to two pages: left page divided into six panels depicting birds in various poses among rocks and foliage; right page showing a dynamic figure surrounded by swirling forms, with vertical columns of Japanese text at upper right.
Japanese woodblock-printed illustrated book, open to a double-page spread with multiple vignettes depicting demons, supernatural creatures, and robed figures in dynamic poses, rendered in black ink on cream paper with fine line work
Japanese woodblock-printed book open to two pages, each divided into rectangular panels depicting dynamic figural scenes with robed figures, swirling clouds, and dramatic landscapes rendered in fine black ink lines on cream paper; small Japanese characters visible near the center gutter.
Japanese woodblock-printed book opened to a two-page spread, depicting a dynamic scene of oni demons, mythological creatures, and supernatural figures in combat, rendered in fine black ink outlines on cream paper with energetic, densely packed figural groupings across both pages.
Woodblock-printed illustrated book, open to a two-page spread depicting numerous human skeletons in dynamic poses across a white ground, rendered in fine black ink lines with fluid, gestural brushwork typical of Japanese woodblock illustration.
Open woodblock-printed album showing two landscape pages, each depicting groups of bare and leafy trees with fine ink linework; a willow with drooping branches appears at right.
Woodblock-printed book opened to a two-page spread, depicting rural village scenes with thatched-roof farmhouses, trees, and a rooster at left; fine ink lines with detailed rendering of straw roofing and bare winter branches.
Opened Japanese printed book with two pages visible; left page shows vertical columns of Japanese text with a handwritten English inscription; right page features a line drawing of a bat in flight above a rectangular red seal with Chinese characters.
Bound book open to a spread showing a blank left page and a right page with printed Japanese text in vertical columns, including a heading and several rows of smaller characters, on cream-colored paper with red binding visible at the spine.
Artist or Maker
Kawanabe Kyōsai
Title
Kyōsai’s Idle Drawings
Place Made
Japan
Date Made
1881
Medium
Woodblock-printed book
Dimensions
4 3/4 x 7 3/16 x 1/2 in. (12.07 x 18.26 x 1.27 cm)
Credit Line
Gift of Chuck Bowdlear, Ph.D., and John Borozan, M.A.
Accession Number
M.2000.105.175
Classification
Books
Collecting Area
Japanese Art