approx. 25 x 17.5 cm x4 books. thread on box are teared. few worm-eaten holes. overall feeling of use and aging, please see photos for details.
Artist: 河鍋暁斎
Work name: 暁斎画談
Technique: Woodblock print
Comment: “Kyōsai Gadan” (Kyōsai's Picture Talk) is a richly illustrated book by Kawanabe Kyōsai (1831–1889), a master painter known for his versatility, wit, and vivid imagination during the late Edo and early Meiji periods.
This work blends autobiographical commentary, artistic philosophy, and visual satire, serving as both a record of Kyōsai’s life and a display of his artistic prowess. It includes numerous drawings—ranging from demons and skeletons to animals, caricatures, and studies of everyday life—executed in a lively, expressive style.
Far more than an instructional manual, Kyōsai Gadan offers insight into the artist’s mind, humor, and dedication to traditional Japanese art amidst a rapidly modernizing society. It stands as a testament to Kyōsai’s role as a bridge between classical ukiyo-e traditions and modern illustration, and is today regarded as a landmark in Japanese art history.
