Artist: Tsukioka Yoshitoshi
Title: Women Bathing
Date: 1883/9th Month
A group of beauties enjoy the bath.: “Summer: Women Bathing at the Daishôrô” (Natsu Nezu hanayashiki Daishôrô). From the series The Four Seasons at their Height (Zensei shiki). The beauty at right combs her hair while reading a letter, while the other three women elegantly comport themselves in bathhouse fashion. In the background we see two beauties in the bath, steam subtly rising against the green background. In 1880 Yoshitoshi moved to Nezu, where according to Roger Keyes his prints became more visionary and personal. In Nezu Yoshitoshi was a frequent visitor to the Daishoro, where he was intimate with the courtesan Maboroshidayu, known as the Phantom, whose portrait appears in the winter subject of this series. Keyes considers these beauties to be drawn with more sensitivity and respect than the female portraits in his earlier works. The four women in the foreground are identified from right to left as Kagetsu, Yoneju, Nakagawa and Shingaku. The calligraphy panel at right reads “Beware of fire” (hi no yojin). Akiyama Buemon, the publisher, became a close friend of Yoshitoshi during the last decade of Yoshitoshi’s life. Considered an important triptych design, with an especially appealing subject matter.
Condition: Excellent impression and color. Very good condition. Trimmed at top. Pigment transfer on margin of leftmost sheet.
Dimensions: ôban triptych
Publisher: Akiya Buemon
Seal: Taiso
Signature: Ôju Yoshitoshi ga
SKU: YOT737
