Four woodblock prints in colours, 37,2 x 102 cm overall, ca 1848-1858. Sukenari and Tokimune Saying Good-bye to Beautiful Flowers, 五郎時致, 十郎祐成 The Soga Brothers' father, Kawazu no Saburō Sukemichi (left), defeating Matano Gorō Kagehisa (right), 俣野五郎景久, 河津三郎祐道 Ōiso-no-Maihime telling Soga Brothers Where Suketsune is, 五郎時宗, 十郎祐成, 大礒の義女 Asahina Saburō pulling Gorō Tokimune, 五郎時宗, 朝比奈三郎 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. Condition: All four sheets mounted and adhered on Japanese paper. Notes in pencil at the upper edge on two sheets. Some surface dirt and wear. For any questions, please contact lisa.mejeritcher@stockholmsauktionsverk.com. Category: Asiatica/Other Estimate: 2000 SEK