Yoshitoshi: Sano Jirozaemon About to Murder the Courtesan Yatsuhashi (First Edition)

Artist: Tsukioka Yoshitoshi (1839-1892)
Title: Sano Jirôzaemon Murdering a Courtesan. (Sano Jirôzaemon no Hanashi)
Series: New Selection of Eastern Brocade Pictures: SHINSEN AZUMA NISHIKIE
Date: 1886

The evil farmer Sano Jirôzaemon pursues the courtesan Yatsuhashi in a jealous rage after killing her patron at Yoshiwara gate. Her helplessness is palpable, as she he has fallen, her packet of tissues fluttering like birds and her red-under-robe swirling in agitation. He advances towards her, his face in a creepy three-quarter view that shows twisted determination. She is an explosion of finery and color, and he is a terrifying portrait of evil, blood still on his sword, clothes and legs. The light shines pink into the darkness, balancing out the downward stance of his legs. They are in a deserted, dark corner that is all in grey except for the stacked firefighting water buckets seen at upper left. At this mature stage in his career, Yoshitoshi had largely abandoned showing violent events themselves, as he found more artistic tension in the moments before the violence has occurred. This is indeed heartbreaking and dramatic. The event happened in the 1720s and was dramatized into the 1850 Kabuki play “Aftermath in the Flower-bedecked Streets”. First editions, as here, feature a three color cartouche as well as pockmarks on the face of the evil Jirôzaemon. With woodgrain evident and lacquer-imitating shine on the black portions of the design.

Condition: Excellent impression, color and condition. 
Dimensions: ôban diptych (36.6 x 24.6 cm each sheet)
Publisher: Tsunashima Kamekichi
Literature: See “Yoshitoshi: The Splendid Decadent”, page 136, figure 33. See LACMA collection online. 
Seal: Taiso
Signature: Yoshitoshi

SKU: YOT944