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Collections

Kawanabe Kyōsai
Kyōsai's Treatise on Painting, volume 31887

Not on view
Woodblock-printed book cover with Chinese text and a circular medallion illustration of a robed, seated male figure holding a brush and scroll, thread-bound spine visible
Japanese woodblock print on tan paper showing a circular medallion containing a toad and intertwined snake beneath a moon and cloud motif; decorative border with lion mask at bottom; small columns of Japanese text at lower left.
Printed Japanese book page with red-orange ink on cream paper, featuring a large circle enclosing vertical columns of Japanese text, surrounded by multiple decorative seals and stamps in varied shapes depicting animals, vessels, and abstract designs in seal script.
Printed page from a Japanese book with dense columns of cursive Japanese script running vertically from right to left, black ink on cream paper.
Printed book page with vertical columns of Japanese cursive script in woodblock-printed ink, with smaller interlinear annotations throughout.
Printed Japanese book page with dense columns of cursive kana and kanji script running right to left, black ink on aged cream paper, with smaller interlinear annotations throughout.
Printed book page with dense columns of Japanese cursive script running vertically, ink on cream paper, with faint show-through from the reverse side
Japanese woodblock-printed book spread showing two interior workshop scenes with numerous figures engaged in various activities; fine ink line work depicts workers, tools, and furnishings with columns of Japanese text at lower left and right margins.
Printed book page densely filled with vertical columns of Japanese cursive script, read right to left, with small annotation characters interspersed throughout.
Printed page of a Japanese manuscript with vertical columns of cursive kana and kanji script, black ink on cream paper, within a thin rectangular border.
Printed page with dense columns of Japanese cursive script in black ink on cream paper, arranged in vertical right-to-left lines within a ruled border.
Printed Japanese book page with vertical columns of cursive Japanese text, including a title in larger characters at upper right reading in Japanese script, on aged cream paper with a ruled border.
Japanese woodblock print showing a temple gate with a muscular guardian figure in a niche at right, and a landscape with trees, waterfall, and two small figures at left; vertical columns of Japanese text in upper right; fine line work throughout.
Woodblock-printed book spread with two illustrated pages and columns of Japanese text. Left page shows a robed figure bowing before a stone grave marker amid trees and foliage. Right page depicts a group of seated robed figures gathered outdoors near shrubs.
Printed Japanese manuscript page with dense vertical columns of cursive kana and kanji text, black ink on cream paper, within a ruled border.
Printed page from a Japanese bound book, densely filled with vertical columns of cursive Japanese script in black ink on cream paper, bordered by a ruled frame.
Printed Japanese manuscript page with vertical columns of cursive kana and kanji script, black ink on cream paper, with a circular seal impression visible at left margin.
Japanese woodblock print illustration showing a seated figure bent over a low work surface, painting or writing, surrounded by bowls, brushes, and a decorative vessel. Above, a multi-armed Buddhist deity seated on a lotus within a circular mandorla. Vertical columns of Japanese calligraphy at upper left.
Printed Japanese book page with dense columns of cursive Japanese script running right to left, black ink on aged cream paper with ruled border lines.
Japanese woodblock printed book spread with two illustrated scenes and vertical columns of Japanese text. Right page shows a seated Buddhist monk with a halo examining a scroll, surrounded by stacked objects, with a large painted or hanging image behind him. Left page depicts a group of figures in traditional dress gathered outdoors near a structure.
Woodblock-printed double-page spread with fine ink linework; left page shows a seated Buddhist deity on clouds surrounded by smaller figures and bodhisattvas; right page depicts a turbulent scene of supernatural figures, demons, and animals amid swirling clouds, with vertical columns of Japanese text at upper right.
Printed Japanese book page with vertical columns of cursive kana and kanji script, reading right to left, on aged cream paper within a ruled border.
Woodblock-printed book opening showing two pages densely filled with vertical columns of Japanese cursive script, printed in black ink on cream paper with ruled border lines.
Woodblock-printed double-page spread from a Japanese illustrated book, with columns of Japanese text above two scenes depicting swirling clouds, waves, and wind rendered in fine, fluid line work.
Woodblock-printed book spread depicting a shishi (lion-dog) in dynamic three-quarter view, rendered in bold brushstroke-style lines against a pale ground, with swirling mane, prominent claws, and wide eyes; columns of Japanese text and a seal at upper left and right margins.
Japanese woodblock-printed book opening showing two pages of brushwork illustrations; a fierce figure with wild hair grips a sword amid billowing robes on the left, while a dragon amid swirling clouds fills the right page, with columns of Japanese text at upper right and lower center.
Woodblock-printed double-page spread with fine ink lines depicting two dynamic figures in flowing robes engaged in a confrontation, one figure raising an arm overhead; columns of Japanese or Chinese text appear at left and right margins.
Printed Japanese book page with columns of cursive kana and kanji script running right to left, black ink on cream paper, within a ruled border.
Woodblock-printed Japanese book opening showing two pages of dense vertical columns of Japanese text in black ink on aged cream paper, with brush-style typeface typical of Edo-period printing.
Woodblock-printed book opening with an illustration on the left page showing a group of figures in traditional Japanese dress gathered around a low table with brushes and writing materials, set in an interior with a view of a garden; vertical columns of Japanese cursive script fill the right page and appear alongside the illustration.
Woodblock-printed illustrated book spread with Japanese text in vertical columns on the left page; right page depicts a standing emaciated figure with disheveled hair and visible ribs, rendered in fine ink lines, beside a square paper lantern, with vertical columns of Japanese calligraphy at upper right.
Bound manuscript open to two pages, dense vertical columns of Japanese cursive script in black ink on cream paper, with occasional circular marks and marginal annotations.
Japanese woodblock-printed book spread with fine ink lines, depicting multiple scenes of figures engaged in various activities across both pages. Upper register shows people working with objects and containers; lower register features groups of small figures, bird cages, and a rooster. Vertical columns of Japanese calligraphy appear at upper right.
Japanese woodblock print with two registers: upper scene shows figures near a river bank with trees; lower scene depicts a crowd of figures in animated poses surrounding a central crouching figure, with columns of Japanese text at upper right and a seal at lower right.
Japanese woodblock-printed book spread showing multiple cats in varied poses: left page features four cats including a tabby, a curled sleeping cat, and close-up faces with fine engraved fur detail and vertical columns of Japanese text; right page shows a single fluffy cat seated among flowering plants with dragonfly above.
Woodblock-printed book opening with two illustrations: left page shows a large eagle with spread wings clutching a shaggy beast, rendered in fine black lines on pale blue-gray ground; right page depicts two bear-like creatures grappling, with dense fur suggested through vigorous hatching. Vertical columns of Japanese text and a square seal appear on each page.
Woodblock-printed book spread with Japanese text labels; left page shows close-up studies of two rooster heads and a detailed tortoise with dynamic, textured linework; right page depicts insects including cicadas and dragonflies in varying orientations, and small furry animal studies with light blue wash accents.
Japanese woodblock-printed book opening showing two pages: left page depicts a dragon amid swirling clouds and waves with vertical columns of Japanese text; right page shows a detailed tortoise from above surrounded by smaller studies of its head, claws, and shell segments, with a red seal at lower right.
Woodblock-printed book opening, two pages visible. Right page shows two women in traditional Japanese robes; one kneels holding a round fan, another stands behind her. Left page features large Japanese calligraphy in brush script with publisher's text in smaller columns.
Printed book page with dense columns of Japanese cursive script (kuzushiji) in black ink on cream paper, with a ruled border.
Woodblock-printed book opening showing a three-quarter portrait of a court nobleman in layered formal robes with floral and geometric patterns in orange and gray, wearing a tall black lacquered cap, surrounded by vertical columns of Japanese calligraphy on both pages.
Japanese woodblock-printed book spread showing two figures in pale blue and salmon-pink robes; at left, a seated figure with long black hair looks upward; at right, a reclining figure seen from behind, with columns of Japanese text at upper right.
Japanese woodblock-printed book spread with hand-applied orange-red color, depicting a chaotic fire scene across two pages; crowds of figures flee or struggle amid sweeping flames, with birds in flight overhead and buildings in the background; vertical columns of Japanese text appear in the upper right and lower corners
Japanese woodblock print across two pages: left page depicts a crowd of figures in traditional dress amid diagonal streaks of pink-red flames with columns of Japanese text at upper left and lower right; right page shows a close-up swirling mass of pink and black flames filling the entire composition.
Artist or Maker
Kawanabe Kyōsai
Title
Kyōsai's Treatise on Painting, volume 3
Place Made
Japan
Date Made
1887
Medium
Color woodblock printed books; four volumes covered with a slip cover having woodblock printed illustration adhered to cloth
Dimensions
Volumes: 10 1/4 x 5 1/2 x 3/8 in. (26 x 14 x .95 cm); each cover open: 10 1/2 x 24 in. (26.7 x 61 cm)
Credit Line
Herbert R. Cole Collection
Accession Number
M.84.31.517.3
Classification
Books
Collecting Area
Japanese Art