NUMBER 2 Upper panel: Kawachi Province, Kusunoki Masashige, (楠正成) seated reading a scroll in his tent. Lower panel: Izumi Province, actor Bandô Shûka I as the fox-woman Kuzunoha (葛の葉) with a brush in her mouth, writing a farewell poem on the shoji in the kabuki play Ashiya dauman ochi kagami. Woodblock print in colours, 34,4 x 22,7 cm. Published by Yamaguchi-ya Tôbei, 1852. NUMBER 9 Upper panel: Awa Province, Inuta Kobungo (犬田小文吾) wrestling over a woman and a child. Lower panel: Kazusa Province, actor Ichikawa Ebizô V as the wrestler Shirafuji Genda (白藤源太). Woodblock print in colours, 34,4 x 22,4 cm. Published by Yamaguchi-ya Tôbei, 1852. NUMBER 10 Upper panel: Shimôsa Province, Asakura Togo (浅倉當吾) with his petition walking through a river. Lower panel: Hitachi Province, actor Ichikawa Kikujirô II as the wife of Oguri Tsuma Kohagi (小栗妻小萩), before a waterfall. Woodblock print in colours, 34,1 x 22,4 cm. Published by Yamaguchi-ya Tôbei, 1852. NUMBER 22 Upper panel: Oki Island, Bingo Saburô (備後三良) in yellow writing on a cherry tree. Lower panel: Harima Province, actor Bandô Mitsugorô as Oboshi Yuranosuke (大星由良之助) in the kabuki play Kanadehon Chûshingura. Woodblock print in colours, 34,1 x 23,7 cm. Published by Mita-ya Kihachi. NUMBER 26 Upper panel: Nagato Province, Kezori Kyuemon (毛剃九右衛門) in his ship. Lower panel: Kii Province, actor Sawamura Chiyojûrô V as the priest Karukaya Doshin (苅萱道心) in the kabuki play Zoho Tsukushi no iezuto. Woodblock print in colours, 34,1 x 22,4 cm. Published by Mita-ya Kihachi. NUMBER 27 Upper panel: Awaji Island, the poet Minamoto no Kanemasa (源兼昌), seated on the shore watching birds. Lower panel: Awa Province, actor Bandô Shûka I as Oyumi (おゆ眼) in the kabuki play Awa no Naruto. Woodblock print in colours, 34,1 x 22,4 cm. Published by Mita-ya Kihachi. 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: Trimmed sheets. Age-related wear and surface dirt. For any questions, please contact lisa.mejeritcher@stockholmsauktionsverk.com. Category: Asiatica/Other Estimate: 2000 SEK