Yoshitoshi 芳年: Flute Duet by Moonlight; Suzaku Gate Moon-- Hakuga Sammi 朱雀門の月博雅三位 (SOLD)

Artist: Tsukioka Yoshitoshi (1839-1892) 芳年
Title: Suzaku Gate Moon–Hakuga Sammi 朱雀門の月博雅三位
Series: One Hundred Aspects of the Moon 月百姿
Date: 1886

Minamato no Hiromasa plays a flute duet with a mysterious visitor beneath the full moon. Hiromasa was a grandson of Emperor Daigo who lived in the tenth century and was famed as a musician who could play many instruments, include two types of flute, both the yokobue, seen here, and the hichiriki, played from the front. He was also known as Hakuga Sammi, the name noted in the cartouche. Yoshitoshi has chosen to portray Hiromasa from the back, dressed in the finery of his imperial robes and hat. The visitor is dressed as a person from central Asia, but no story is known by Stevenson to identify him. Hiromasa was trained by the blind muscisian Semimaru, the most famous musician of his time. Hiromasa’s playing became so beautiful that it once prompted thieves to return all of his stolen belongings. An exquisite example, earlier than the one shown in Stevenson. WIth blindprinting on the white areas (nunomezuri) and shiny lacquer-like printing (shomenzuri) on the black areas and strong woodgrain evident at bottom.

Condition: Excellent impression, color and condition. Unbacked.
Dimensions: ôban 35.6 x 24 cm
Publisher: Akiyama Buemon
Literature: John Stevenson, Yoshitoshi’s One Hundred Aspects of the Moon (San Francisco: San Francisco Graphic Society, 1992), number 20. See British Museum, Portland Art Museum.
Seal: Yoshitoshi no in
Signature: Yoshitoshi

SKU: YOT897