鮮齋永濯畫譜 初編 (Sensai Eitaku Gafu) - Japanese Woodblock Printed Illustrated Painting Manual - Meiji 17 (1884)
A beautifully illustrated Meiji-period Japanese woodblock printed painting manual by the celebrated artist Kobayashi Eitaku (1843-1890), one of the leading figure painters and book illustrators of nineteenth-century Japan. Produced as the first part of his Sensai Eitaku Gafu, the work was intended as both an artistic model book and a source of inspiration for students of painting, presenting finely executed woodblock illustrations of legendary heroes, saints, hermits, supernatural beings and scenes from Japanese mythology and early history. Combining expressive figure drawing with elegant composition, Eitaku's illustrated manuals remain among the most attractive examples of Meiji-era Japanese book production and are increasingly collected for both their artistic quality and their importance in the development of Japanese illustration.
Title: 鮮齋永濯畫譜 初編
Romanisation: Sensai Eitaku Gafu (or Senzai Eitaku Gafu).
Meaning: "Illustrated Manual by Sensai Eitaku" (First Series).
Artist / compiler: 鮮齋永濯 (Sensai Eitaku / Kobayashi Eitaku, 1843-1890).
Publisher: 東京書林 錦榮堂 (Tokyo Shorin, Kin'eidō).
Edition: 初編 (Shohen - First Series / Part One).
Date: The colophon gives Meiji 17 (1884) with a publication licence date of the fourth month. First edition, first printing. Tokyo: Kin'eidō, Meiji 17 (1884).
Unlike many gafu that concentrate on flowers, birds or landscapes, this volume illustrates figures from mythology, early Japanese history, Buddhist tradition and folklore. The subjects include legendary emperors, mountain ascetics, saints, supernatural beings, hermits and warriors, each rendered in Kobayashi Eitaku's highly distinctive style.
The illustrations are woodblock printed, with several colour plates near the beginning and numerous black-and-white plates thereafter.
The combination of expressive line work and imaginative subject matter made Eitaku one of the leading designers of the early Meiji period.
Kobayashi Eitaku (1843-1890) was one of the best-known painters and woodblock designers of early Meiji Japan. Originally trained in the Kano school, he later worked for illustrated books and newspapers while producing paintings in both traditional Japanese and Western-influenced styles.
His figure drawings are particularly admired, and his illustrated manuals were intended both as works of art and practical references for aspiring painters.
A good to very good copy in the original Japanese fukuro-toji (stab-sewn) binding with decorative purple paper-covered wrappers and original printed title label to the upper cover. The binding remains sound and complete, with the original stitching intact.
General age-related wear to the covers, including some rubbing, light marking, minor creasing and a little wear to the extremities. The original outer paper wrapper has become detached but is retained, with associated edge tears and losses.
Internally the book is in very good condition overall. The woodblock-printed illustrations remain clean and well impressed, including the attractive colour plates at the beginning of the volume. There is scattered foxing and occasional light spotting throughout, somewhat heavier on a few leaves towards the front and rear, together with the expected gentle age toning. Overall an attractive and well-preserved example of this Meiji-period illustrated painting manual.
Text in Japanese.
Covers + 44pp.
Weight approximately 94g unpacked.
Dimensions: Approximately 224mm high x 151mm wide x 11mm deep.