March 2015

Paintings and Prints of the Floating World

March 14—20, 2015

Paintings and Prints of the Floating World was the focus of the Asia Week exhibition at Sebastian Izzard LLC, 17 East 76th Street, New York. Opening March 14 and running through March 20, 2015, the exhibition featured paintings by the Edo artists Miyagawa Issho (1689–1779), Kikugawa Eizan (1787–1867), Utagawa Kunisada (1786–1865), Utagawa Toyoharu (1735–1814), and Teisai Hokuba (1771–1844).

Particularly noteworthy was a painting of a bewhiskered man importuning a wakashu by Miyagawa Issho. The subject matter depicted is extremely rare in ukiyo-e painting and unique within this artist’s oeuvre. A selection of fine surimono by Totoya Hokkei (1780–1850) and Yashima Gakutei (active 1815–52) rounded out the show.

JADA 2015: An Exhibition by the Japanese Art Dealers Association

March 16—18, 2015

Sebastian Izzard LLC also participated in JADA 2015: An Exhibition by the Japanese Art Dealers Association held at the Fletcher-Sinclair Mansion/Ukrainian Institute, 2 East 79th Street, New York, from March 16–18. Highlights included a pair of hanging scrolls— Carp Swimming among Water Plants—by the 19th century master Shibata Zeshin (1807–1891). Dating to 1889, the scrolls exemplify the artist’s exquisite technique and sense of play as witnessed by the anthropomorphic expressions given to the fish. 

Several unique and unusual examples of Japanese porcelain were among the items Izzard brought to the exhibition. An unusual Kokutani bottle and a fine Oribe dish with strap handle (tebachi), as well as a nezumi-Shino dish and a selection of early Nabeshima wares were included. For more information on this exhibition, please see www.jada-ny.org