Yoshitoshi 芳年: Looking as if she Wants a Drink... (Sold)

Artist: Tsukioka Yoshitoshi (1839-1892)
Title: Looking as if she wants a drink: the appearance of a town geisha, a so-called sake-server, In the Ansei (1854-1860) Era.  のみたさう 安政年間 町芸者俗二酌人之風俗
Series: Thirty-two Types of Women (Fuzoku sanjû-ni sô)
Date: 1888

A young woman carefully holds a full cup of sake, her fingers positioned just so, looking right towards where her customers must be seated. She has most certainly poured this just for them, and the title indicates that she’d be happy to drink it herself. She is dressed against the winter cold in several layers of patterned kimono. Next to her stands a tall metal candlestick, with the scissors hanging handily from a hook for wick-trimming purposes. The three-color cartouche is generally accepted to represent a “First” edition. Beautifully printed.

Condition: Excellent impression, color and condition. 
Dimensions: ôban (36.6 x 25.6 cm)
Publisher: Tsunashima Kamekichi
Literature: See Stevenson “Yoshitoshi’s Women”, plate 22, page 72.
Signature: Yoshitoshi

SKU: YOT824