Ehon kyoka yama mata yama (Picture book of Kyoka: Mountains upon Mountains)

Medium:: Woodblock print
Format:: Oban
Source:: British Museum

Typical Price

Reproduction or loose page (20th-century): $50–$300
Later Edo-period volume or leaf (some wear): $500–$3,000
Good earlier Edo-period impression (clean binding or leaf): $3,000–$15,000
Fine early Edo-period volume (original binding, vivid color): $15,000–$50,000

Hokusai's illustrated books and albums span six decades and showcase the full range of his genius. Hokusai Manga (15 volumes, 1814–1878) original volumes sell for $2,000–$15,000 each; complete sets can reach $30,000–$80,000.

Description

The Ehon kyoka yama mata yama (Picture Book of Kyoka: Mountains upon Mountains) is an illustrated anthology pairing comic verse (kyoka) with landscape imagery — a format that fused the witty irreverence of Edo's literati poetry circles with Hokusai's developing mastery of landscape composition. The anthology's mountain-themed verses gave him occasion to explore range after range in the fluid, atmospheric style of his middle period.

More Prints by Katsushika Hokusai

The Fishermen of Katase Hauling in Their Nets: The Purple Shell (Murasakigai)

1821

Color woodblock print with metallic pigments; surimono shikishiban

Burdock Root (Kurama gobo), from the series "A Selection of Horses (Uma-zukushi)"

1822

Color woodblock print; shikishiban, surimono

Horse Shells (Umagai), from the series "A Selection of Horses (Uma-zukushi)"

1822

Color woodblock print; shikishiban, surimono

Orange Orchids, from an untitled series of flowers

c. 1832

Color woodblock print; oban

More Landscapes Prints

Lake Kugushi in Wakasa Province (Wakasa Kugushiko), from the series Souvenirs of Travel I (Tabi miyage dai isshu)"

Wakasa Kugushiko

1920

Color woodblock print; oban

Autumn Maple Leaves at Takao, from the album Eight Views of Kyoto (Kyôto hakkei)

Woodblock print

The Beach at Kaiganji in Sanuki Province (Sanuki Kaiganji no hama), from the series "Collection of Views of Japan II, Kansai Edition (Nihon fukei shu II Kansai hen)"

1934

Color woodblock print; oban

Tea Kettle, section of a sheet from the series "Mirror of Stone Rubbings of Views of the Provinces" (Kohon meihitsu ishizuri kagami)

n.d.

Woodblock print; ishizuri-e, section of harimaze sheet

Featured in Collections

Curated cross-cuts that include this print.

Mount Fuji in Japanese Woodblock Prints Meisho-e: Famous-Place Prints

Frequently Asked Questions

Ehon kyoka yama mata yama (Picture book of Kyoka: Mountains upon Mountains) was created by Katsushika Hokusai (葛飾北斎).

Ehon kyoka yama mata yama (Picture book of Kyoka: Mountains upon Mountains) depicts landscapes, calligraphy, and mountains.