Title: Japanese Manuscript Sketchbook, Circa 1844-1848?. An Ukiyo-E Artist Book with 80 Pages of Colored Paintings and Ink Sketches, Hundreds of Drawings
Condition: Very Good
A Late Edo Period, mid 19th century manuscript sketchbook, being the original art book for an Ukiyo-E artist, who was using the book to practice paintings and sketches. There are 80 pages with hundreds of individual drawings of birds, other animals, landscapes, various figures, flora and fauna, and much more. Some of the paintings have been pasted in or full sheets have been bound in.
To the end of the manuscript are several pages of notes and inscriptions, with two pages oddly listing various elements, compounds, and materials, such as soil, ochre, grass, and more. There is also a possible inscription for the dating, roughly noting the Koka Era, which would be appropriate for this manuscript. There is most likely an inscription for the artist, but look, there’s over 400 items in this catalog, at some point I have to just cut losses on what I can translate in time.
One manuscript in octavo (21.2 x 13.8 cm), 41 leaves
This manuscript is in very good shape, with minor wear and ink staining to the covers, and a few small worm tracks. There are some small worm tracks to the outer and inner margins, the outer margin tracks impacting a few of the sketches and paintings. There is minor, scattered ink soiling.