Miyagawa Isshō (1689–1779); Bewhiskered Man Importuning a Wakashū; hanging scroll; ink and color on silk, Edo period, Genbun/Kampō eras, 1736–44; 33¼ x 17⅜ in. (84.5 x 44 cm). Signed: Nihon e Miyagawa Isshō ga; Sealed: [illegible], Tō. Photo courtesy Sebastian Izzard LLC Asian Art.

NEW YORK, NY.- Sebastian Izzard LLC Asian Art will present Paintings and Prints of the Floating World from March 14 to 20, 2015 at their gallery on East 76th Street. The exhibition will feature a range of high quality eighteenth and nineteenth century “floating world” paintings and woodblock prints of actors and beauties, the typical subject matter of ukiyo-e. 

Of particular interest among the paintings to be exhibited is a rare depiction of a seated bewhiskered man pulling the sleeve of an adolescent boy (wakashū) by Miyagawa Isshō (1689–1779). Teisai Hokuba’s (1771–1844) Geisha Admiring Cherry Blossoms at Mukōjima will also be featured. The meticulously rendered “S-shaped” figure of the woman is characteristic of Hokuba’s beauty paintings. Here her jewel-like figure is contrasted with a loose, almost monochromatic, wash-painted background. Three High-ranking Courtesans on Parade by Kikugawa Eizan (1787–1867) depicting an oiran and her competitors parading along the Nakanochō, the main boulevard of the Yoshiwara brothel district, along with works by Kubo Shunman (1757–1820) and Utagawa Kunisada (1786–1865) will be shown as well. 

A selection of fine woodblock prints and surimono will round out the show.

Sebastian Izzard LLC will also exhibit at JADA 2015: An Exhibition by the Japanese Art Dealers Association during Asia Week as part of the JADA’s ninth collaborative exhibition. The show will be held at the Ukrainian Institute of America, 2 E. 79 St. in New York, for three days only, from March 14 through March 16.

Attributed to Tamura Suio (active 1680–1730), Courtesan and Her Kamuro seated on a Veranda; Hanging scroll: ink and color on silk, 13½ x 14 in. (34.3 x 35.6 cm). Unsigned. Photo courtesy Sebastian Izzard LLC Asian Art.

Kikugawa Eizan (1787−1867), High-ranking Courtesans on Parade; Hanging scroll: ink, colors and gold pigment on silk, 33 x 74.9 cm; Bunka era, circa 1815−18. Signed: Kikugawa Eizan hitsu; sealed: Kikugawa, Toshinobu (?). Photo courtesy Sebastian Izzard LLC Asian Art.

Totoya Hokkei (1780–1850), Court Lady (Joto monin) [Fujiwara no Shoshi, 988–1074]; Color woodblock print with metallic pigments: shikishiban; 20.6 x 18.2 cm; ca.1822. Series: A Series for a Gathering of Elders of Poetry (Shoshikai bantsuzuki). Signed: Hokkei. Poem signed: Ryuunen Umefusa, Ryukaen Umesato, and Renjitsuan Umekazu. Photo courtesy Sebastian Izzard LLC Asian Art.

Yashima Gakutei (Active 1815–52), Courtesan with thread-ball and shuttle-cock representing Tobosaku (Dongfang Shuo); Color woodblock print with metallic pigments: shikishiban; 20.6 x 18.2 cm; ca. 1822. Series: Courtesans Viewed as the immortals of Ressenden, one of seven (Keisei mitate Ressenden, shichiban no uchi). Signed: Toto Gakutei. Sealed: Sadaoka. Poems signed: Ki no Mamanari. Photo courtesy Sebastian Izzard LLC Asian Art.

Totoya Hokkei (1780–1850), The itinerant renga poet Botanka Shohaku reading while seated on an ox(Botanka Shohaku). Color woodblock print with metallic pigments: shikishiban; 20.6 x 18.2 cm; ca.1822.Series: A Series for a Gathering of Elders of Poetry (Shoshikai bantsuzuki). Signed: Hokkei. Poem signed: Hyakutensha Baicho. Photo courtesy Sebastian Izzard LLC Asian Art.

Yashima Gakutei (Active 1815–52), Courtesan cradling an origami frog representing Gama (Liu Haichan). Color woodblock print with metallic pigments: shikishiban; 20.6 x 18.2 cm; ca. 1822. Series: Courtesans Viewed as the immortals of Ressenden, one of seven (Keisei mitate Ressenden, shichiban no uchi). Signed: Toto Gakutei. Poem signed: Tsurunoya. Photo courtesy Sebastian Izzard LLC Asian Art.

Yashima Gakutei (Active 1815–52), Courtesan exhaling a puff of smoke in which a printed portrait of her appears,representing Tekkai (Li Tieguai). Color woodblock print with metallic pigments: shikishiban; 20.6 x 18.2 cm; ca. 1822. Series: Courtesans Viewed as the immortals of Ressenden, one of seven (Keisei mitate Ressenden, shichiban no uchi). Signed: Toto Gakutei. Poems signed: Mochizuki no Kagenari and Nukekoji no Chikamichi. Photo courtesy Sebastian Izzard LLC Asian Art.

Yashima Gakutei (Active 1815–52), Courtesan admiring a potted plum, representing Sosenko (Su Xiangong). Color woodblock print with metallic pigments: shikishiban; 20.6 x 18.2 cm; ca. 1822. Series: Courtesans Viewed as the immortals of Ressenden, one of seven (Keisei mitate Ressenden, shichiban no uchi). Signed: Toto Gakutei. Poem signed: Mochizuki no Kagenari. Photo courtesy Sebastian Izzard LLC Asian Art.

Totoya Hokkei (1780–1850), Tomoe Gozen with her horse and halberd (Tomoe Gozen). Color woodblock print with metallic pigments: shikishiban; 20.6 x 18.2 cm; ca.1822. Series: A Series for a Gathering of Elders of Poetry (Shoshikai bantsuzuki). Signed: Hokkei. Poems signed: Sessoen Fumimori of Iinuma in Shimosa and Jinshotei Muratatsu of the same city. Photo courtesy Sebastian Izzard LLC Asian Art.

Utagawa Kunisada (1786–1865), Ichikawa Danjuro VII as Usui no Sadamitsu. Color woodblock print with metallic pigments: shikishiban; 20.6 x 18.2 cm; Bunsei era, ca.1823. Signed: Gototei Kunisada ga, sealed Sada. Poem signed: Hoshitei Masunari. Photo courtesy Sebastian Izzard LLC Asian Art.

Utagawa Kunisada (1786–1865), Gathering Clams at Suzaki. Fan painting: ink, color, and mica on paper; 8¼ x 20½ in. (21 x 52.1 cm). Early Tempo era, circa 1830–35. Signed: Kochoshi Kunisada ga. Sealed: Ko Cho. Photo courtesy Sebastian Izzard LLC Asian Art.

Utagawa Kunisada (1786–1865), Boy’s Festival. Fan painting: ink and color on paper; 8.25 x 20 in. (20.6 x 50.8 cm). Early Tempo era, circa 1830–35. Signed: Kochoro Kunisada ga. Sealed: Ko Cho. Photo courtesy Sebastian Izzard LLC Asian Art.

Teisai Hokuba (1771–1844), Geisha Viewing Cherry Blossoms (detail). Hanging scroll: ink and color on silk; 109.3 x 44 cm; circa 1795. Signed: Teisai. Sealed: Hokuba ga in. Photo courtesy Sebastian Izzard LLC Asian Art.

Utagawa Kunisada (1786–1865), Standing Figure of the Courtesan Kasho (detail). Hanging scroll: ink and color on silk; 33¼ x 11½ in. (84.5 x 29.2 cm); circa 1848–50. Signed: Kogetsu senri. Sealed: Koshiman. Inscription signed: Momonoto no Kasho. Photo courtesy Sebastian Izzard LLC Asian Art.

Utagawa Toyoharu (1735–1814), Parading Courtesan. Hanging scroll: ink and light color on paper; 37 ¾ x 10 ½ in. (95.9 x 26.7 cm). Signed: Utagawa Toyoharu ga. Sealed: Ichiryusai. Photo courtesy Sebastian Izzard LLC Asian Art.

Utagawa Toyoharu (1735–1814), Farm Girl Riding an Ox (detail). Hanging scroll: ink and color on silk; 35 x 11 in. (88.9 x 27.9 cm). Signed: Toyoharu ga. Sealed: Ichiryusai. Photo courtesy Sebastian Izzard LLC Asian Art.

Kubo Shuman (1757–1820), Jewel River at Mishima in Settsu Province. Hanging scroll: ink and muted colors on silk; 34 x 12½ in. (86.4 x 31.8 cm). Signed: Shosado Shunman ga. Sealed: Shunman. Photo courtesy Sebastian Izzard LLC Asian Art.

Seated figure of a smiling Hotei, Hizen ware, Kakiemon type porcelain with overglaze colored enamel decoration, 9-7/8 in. (25 cm) high, Edo period, late 17th century. Photo courtesy Sebastian Izzard LLC Asian Art.