Japanese Woodblock Print By Yoshitoshi

Original Yoshitoshi (1839 - 1892) Japanese Woodblock Print
Lady Chiyo

100 Aspects of the Moon (Tsuki hyakushi) Print 74 of 100 printed in 1889

One Hundred Aspects of the Moon - Considered his masterwork, Yoshitoshi's series One Hundred Aspects of the Moon features one hundred oban size woodblocks, published between 1885 and 1892. These quiet and reflective prints, beautifully composed and drawn, feature subjects from traditional Japanese and Chinese history and legend, rendered with great sensitivity and emotion. The moon appears in all but a few prints, providing a unifying motif for the series.

Yoshitoshi's innovative designs for the Moon series are often elegantly spare, with simple backgrounds that focus attention on the human figure. He combines the western influences of realism and perspective with qualities from traditional Japanese and Chinese painting, such as the emphasis on calligraphic brushstroke. The figures are carefully drawn with beautiful linework, conveying a real sense of individual character, gesture, and emotion. Special printing techniques such as embossing and burnishing add a sumptuous touch where appropriate, but simple subjects are conveyed in a likewise manner, no less carefully observed.

Prints from the series were released singly or in groups every few months, with the final image completed shortly before Yoshitoshi's death. The series proved tremendously popular, with patrons lining up to purchase the new releases as soon as they became available. Today, One Hundred Aspects of the Moon remains Yoshitoshi's most well-known work, characterized by his artistry, compassion, and sensitivity in portraying the human experience.

Lady Chiyo - Lovely illustration of a classic Japanese poem by the poetess Chiyo. The poem reads: "morning-glories have taken my bucket, so I ask for water." Standing beside a well, she wears a tie-dyed kimono with chrysanthemums across the center. She has just dropped her bucket, the water spilling out across the ground. Above, persimmons on bare branches frame the full moon, the fruit repeating the red orange of the under robe and obi, adding colorful notes to the otherwise subdued palette. Nicely detailed with handsome calligraphic line work in the tree trunk and autumn grasses.

Artist - Yoshitoshi (1839 - 1892)

Image Size - 12 7/8" x8 3/4" + margins as shown