Kawamura Kiho (1778-1852)
Kiho’s Picture Book (Kiho gafu), 1827
Woodblock-printed illustrated book
One volume, complete
Publisher: Yoshida Shinbei (Bunchodo), Kyoto
Date: 1827 (Bunsei 7)
Binding: fukurotoji (pouch binding), original pale blue covers printed with waves in mica
One volume, complete
Publisher: Yoshida Shinbei (Bunchodo), Kyoto
Date: 1827 (Bunsei 7)
Binding: fukurotoji (pouch binding), original pale blue covers printed with waves in mica
25.8 x 17.7 cm. (10 ⅛ x 7 in.)
Comprising:
Four-page preface dated Bunsei 7 (1824); single-page preface signed Soin (Nakajima Soin (1779-1855) and sealed Nakajima; thirty double-page illustrations; a single-page postscript; eight pages of announcements of publications by Yoshida Shinbei (Bunchodo); colophon dated Bunsei 10 (1827) and with publisher details
Four-page preface dated Bunsei 7 (1824); single-page preface signed Soin (Nakajima Soin (1779-1855) and sealed Nakajima; thirty double-page illustrations; a single-page postscript; eight pages of announcements of publications by Yoshida Shinbei (Bunchodo); colophon dated Bunsei 10 (1827) and with publisher details
£ 1,800.00
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Kiho gafu contains thirty double-page illustrations of various subjects including animals, birds, flowers, landscapes and figural scenes using brush lines in expressive calligraphic strokes. Each illustration is enhanced with the...
Kiho gafu contains thirty double-page illustrations of various subjects including animals, birds, flowers, landscapes and figural scenes using brush lines in expressive calligraphic strokes. Each illustration is enhanced with the addition of a range of delicate colours and incorporates elements of Chinese literati painting and the naturalism of the Shijo-Maruyama school prevalent in Kyoto at the time. Kiho's work is appreciated for its characterful expressiveness and warm familiarity.
Kawamura Kiho was the pupil of Kawamura Bumpo (1779-1821), one of the leading Kyoto artists of the beginning of the 19th century. Though he was one year older than his teacher he also became his adopted son.
Kiho gafu is known with different dates in the prefaces, postscripts, and colophons, indicating that the book was re-issued over several years. The Arthur Tress Collection (now in the Kislak Center, University of Pennsylvania Libraries) contains three copies, illustrating these differences. One of these, accession no. 19719269, includes a date of Bunsei 7 (1824) in the preface, Bunsei 9 (1826) in the postscript, and Bunsei 10 (1827) in the colophon - which matches the present book offered here. As noted by the University of Pennsylvania Libraries, "the publication dates of the other two impressions in the collection are unknown, as they do not have colophon dates, but they cannot precede Bunsei 9 (1826) given the date of the postscript included in both impressions." (1)
Other examples of the same edition in museum collections:
The British Museum, accession no. 1979,0305,0.291, go to:
https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/A_1979-0305-0-291
The Portland Art Museum, accession no. 67.17, go to:
http://portlandartmuseum.us/mwebcgi/mweb.exe?request=record;id=12357;type=101
1. For further reading and comparison see The Arthur Tress Collection of Japanese Illustrated Books, Kislak Center, University of Pennsylvania Libraries
Kawamura Kiho was the pupil of Kawamura Bumpo (1779-1821), one of the leading Kyoto artists of the beginning of the 19th century. Though he was one year older than his teacher he also became his adopted son.
Kiho gafu is known with different dates in the prefaces, postscripts, and colophons, indicating that the book was re-issued over several years. The Arthur Tress Collection (now in the Kislak Center, University of Pennsylvania Libraries) contains three copies, illustrating these differences. One of these, accession no. 19719269, includes a date of Bunsei 7 (1824) in the preface, Bunsei 9 (1826) in the postscript, and Bunsei 10 (1827) in the colophon - which matches the present book offered here. As noted by the University of Pennsylvania Libraries, "the publication dates of the other two impressions in the collection are unknown, as they do not have colophon dates, but they cannot precede Bunsei 9 (1826) given the date of the postscript included in both impressions." (1)
Other examples of the same edition in museum collections:
The Arthur Tress Collection, Kislak Center, University of Pennsylvania Libraries, accession no. 19719269, go to:
https://colenda.library.upenn.edu/catalog/81431-p3cf9jh2mThe British Museum, accession no. 1979,0305,0.291, go to:
https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/A_1979-0305-0-291
The Portland Art Museum, accession no. 67.17, go to:
http://portlandartmuseum.us/mwebcgi/mweb.exe?request=record;id=12357;type=101
1. For further reading and comparison see The Arthur Tress Collection of Japanese Illustrated Books, Kislak Center, University of Pennsylvania Libraries