Yoshitoshi: Drawing of the Courtesan Kiyû holding a knife to her throat (Sold)

Artist: Tsukioka Yoshitoshi
Title: Drawing of the Courtesan Kiyû holding a knife to her throat
Date: ca 1880

Preparatory drawing for a print for a series was never published. The title series is “Kôkoku meifu den” (Famous Women of the Imperial Nation). The young woman is about to commit suicide in true female samurai fashion, by cutting her own jugular vein. Yoshitoshi first made an under-drawing in red (beni), and finalized it with sumi. This work is given a full page in the monograph “Beauty & Violence”, page 94, number D17. The author states “This drawing is a beautiful example of his technique and expertise.” and notes that another drawing for this series was sold in 1981 at Christie’s New York and was signed Taiso Yoshitoshi.

Literature: “Beauty & Violence”, page 94, number D17.

SKU: DRW473