UTAGAWA HIROSHIGE (JAPAN, 1797-1858). Nine illustrations from the Tale of Soga Brothers, 曽我物語図絵, (Soga monogatari zue).

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 Woodblock print in colours, ca 37,4 x 26,4 cm, ca 1848-1858. The Brothers envy the wild geese, 兄弟の母, 箱王丸, 一万丸, 兄弟雁を羡む Woodblock print in colours, ca 37,8 x 25,6 cm, ca 1848-1858. Ichiman-maru (Jūrō) and Hakoō-maru (Gorō) about to be executed, 上使,箱王丸, 番場忠太, 一万丸, 兄弟斬られんとす Woodblock print in colours, ca 37,9 x 26,2 cm, ca 1848-1858. Hakoōmaru Meeting Kudō Saemon, 工藤左エ門祐経, 箱王丸 Woodblock print in colours, ca 37,2 x 25,3 cm, ca 1848-1858. Hakoōmaru is leaving the temple to see his elder brother, 箱王丸, 箱王寺, をぬけ出す Woodblock print in colours, ca 37,9 x 25,3 cm, ca 1848-1858. The Adulthood Ceremony of the Brothers, 北条時政, 十郎祐成, 五郎時宗, 兄弟の元服 Woodblock print in colours, ca 37,6 x 25,5 cm, ca 1848-1858. Asahina Saburō pulling Gorō Tokimune, 五郎時宗, 朝比奈三郎 Woodblock print in colours, ca 37,6 x 25,2 cm, ca 1848-1858. Jūrō and Gorō at the Hunting Ground at Miharano, 十郎, 五郎 (兄弟三原野の狩場で機会を得ず) Woodblock print in colours, ca 37,5 x 25,7 cm, ca 1848-1858. Zenjibō (Soga’s Youngest Brother) Trying To Commit Suicide, 禅師房 Woodblock print in colours, ca 37,4 x 24,5 cm, ca 1848-1858. 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.

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