Yoshitoshi: The poet Ariwara Narihira in exile. (Sold)

Artist: Tsukioka Yoshitoshi
Title: The poet Ariwara Narihira in exile.
Series: New Forms of Thirty-six Ghosts
Date: 1890

From the series “New Forms of Thirty-six Ghosts”. The poem reads: “The autumn wind blows, there is nothing more to say, grass grows through the eye sockets of Ono’s skull”. Ariwara Narihira was an eighth century prince of the Heian court, forced into exile for an affair with the empress-designate. Here he imagines seeing the skull of his former lover, the famous poet Ono no Komachi. In an early impression like this we can feel the subtle melancholy and detached longing in this sensitive portrait of the famous poet, perhaps best summed up by the Japanese phrase mono no aware.

Condition: Excellent impression, color and condition.
Dimensions: ôban
Publisher: Sasaki Toyokichi
Literature: Stevenson, “Yoshitoshi’s Thirty-Six Ghosts”, page 66, plate XXIV.
Seal: Yoshitoshi
Signature: Yoshitoshi

SKU: YOT610