Two Hokusai woodblock prints from “Hokusai’s Sketches”, 1815

Katsushika Hokusai (葛飾 北斎) (1760–1849)

Two woodblock illustrations from "Hokusai's Sketches" (北斎漫画) (aka “Hokusai Manga”; “Ten Thousand Sketches by Hokusai: Ehon”), 1815, vol. 2, (left) page 59 and (right) pages 56, published in Nagoyaby by Eirakuya Tōshirō (永楽屋東四郎) (fl.1813–1842) (see http://pulverer.si.edu/node/663/title/2).

Regarding the curious image of the goat, Ruth Chandler Williamson Gallery offers the following insights:

“… a goat-like creature with three eyes looking out of its side, the suggestion of four more eyes on the front of its face and two pairs of horns, one at the top of its head and the other coming out of its back. It is posed in a very animalistic position, as if it was grazing but without a background to place it in context. The style speaks to Hokusai's fascination with the grotesque, and his impressive imagination. His use of fine lines depicts the detail of the fur along the back, hoofs and tail. Hokusai was able to take a familiar animal, the goat, and turn it into something supernatural and fantasized” (https://web-kiosk.scrippscollege.edu/objects-1/info/20397).

Ruth Chandler Williamson Gallery also offers the following background information about the volume in which these prints feature:

“Volume II from Hokusai's set of Manga, intended as primers for aspiring artists. In this series of 15 volumes, designed from around 1813 through his final years, Hokusai produced a veritable pictorial encyclopedia of Far Eastern life and legend. The series was originally intended as a set of copybooks for art students but soon made the artist's name known throughout Japan and, eventually, throughout the world. Volume II includes 50 illustrations with black, blue and orange inks. Depicts people, landscapes, birds, animals, bugs, and plants” (op. cit.).

Two woodblock prints printed in three colours (black, grey and pale flesh/orange) on a single sheet of washi paper with centre fold and margins as published (but without the binding edges).

Size: (sheet) 23.9 x 28.9 cm; (image borderline) 17.5 x 25.1 cm.

Condition: excellent, but slightly grey impressions showing no sign of wear to the printing plate in near pristine condition with no tears, holes, abrasions, stains, foxing or signs of handling.

I am selling this sheet of woodblock prints featuring a curiously wonderful many-eyed goat and seventeen small critters (viz. a wasp on its nest, butterflies, a worm, leeches, lizards, spiders, a ladybird and bugs that I assume are millipedes) by one of the most famous of the Japanese printmakers, for the total cost of [deleted[ at the time of this listing) including Express Mail (EMS) postage and handling to anywhere in the world, but not (of course) any import duties/taxes imposed by some countries.

If you are interested in purchasing this superb leaf of original woodblock prints by the almost legendary Hokusai, please contact me (oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com) and I will send you a PayPal invoice to make the payment easy.

This print has been sold