UTAGAWA KUNIYOSHI (JAPAN, 1797-1861). Celebrated Products of Mountains

UTAGAWA KUNIYOSHI (JAPAN, 1797-1861). Celebrated Products of Mountains and Seas, 山海目出度圖會, (Sankai medetai zue). UMBER 48 Shimosa nishi kai nori (下総 西海苔). Edible seaweed from Kasai (Kasai nori, 葛西海苔). Shimôsa Province (下総). Wishing to run away (Hayaku nigetai). Woodblock print in colours, 36 x 25 cm. Published by Sano-ya Kihei, 1852. This series depicts beautiful women (bijin) from a range of social classes and occupations, expressing various desires and emotions. An inset in the upper left corner, designed by one of Kuniyoshi’s pupils, illustrates the production of one of Japan’s renowned regional products. PROVENANCE The collection of Dr Eugen Milch (1889-1958), Austrian physician and artist. During the First World War he practiced as a medical officer. Milch was a true globetrotter - in the early 1920s, he travelled across Europe on a combined study and painting tour. In 1924, he married Emma Bormann, and the couple visited Sweden that same year. Together with the artist Oskar Bergman, they exhibited a number of paintings at Liljevalchs in Stockholm. In 1937, Eugen left for China with other Austrian physicians at the invitation of the Chinese government, and was joined by his wife two years later. The initial posting didn’t materialize, but in 1938 he became superintendent of a hospital in Beihai, China. In 1941, when Japanese forces occupied part of the South China coast, including Beihai, the Milch family managed to move to Shanghai. While in China, Eugen and Emma decided to separate. Eugen went on to assist British forces in China, for which he was awarded British citizenship. Continuing his travels, he went to Japan to study the aftermath of the war, and this is where he probably acquired the present collection of Japanese woodblock prints. He died in Hong Kong in 1958. Thence by descent within the family. LIITERATURE Robinson 117.

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