Yoshitoshi 芳年: Dawn Moon and Tumbling Snow (SOLD)

Artist: Tsukioka Yoshitoshi (1839-1892) 芳年
Title: Dawn Moon and Tumbling Snow
Series: One Hundred Aspects of the Moon (Tsuki hyaku sugata)
Date: 2/1886 (Meiji 19)

Here Yoshitoshi presents an unusual take on the famous story of the night attack of the 47 Ronin that takes place on a moonlit night in the snow. The young fighter Kobayashi Heihachirô has firmly planted his bare feet in the snow, a  woman’s red-lined kimono, a disguise, draped over his plain attire. The crimson of the lining stands out against the snow, and probably hints at the blood about to be shed. In his emotional and artistic maturity here, Yoshitoshi is exploring new angles to an overly familiar tale, as the subject here is one of the “bad” guys in the story. His ponytail flies up, escaped from from its fastener, and we feel his focus and determination in his fighting.  An extremely early impression, with a bright yellow moon, embossing on the white cartouche and burnishing on the black robe.

Condition: Excellent impression, color and condition.
Dimensions: ôban 35.6 x 24 cm
Publisher: Akiyama Buemon
Literature: Stevens, John: “Yoshitoshi’s One Hundred Aspects of The Moon”, Hong Kong, 1988. #79. Keyes 1983, p. 466, no. 478.78. van den Ing & Schaap 1992, p. 135, no. 54. Ota Memorial Museum of Art 2009, p. 38, no. 2.79.
Seal: Go Kaisai
Signature: Yoshitoshi

SKU: YOT790