Tsukioka Yoshitoshi

1839-1892

One Hundred Aspects of the Moon: no. 44, I wish I had gone to bed immediately, but now the night has passed, and I watch the moon descend
(Tsuki hyakushi: yasurawade, nenamashi mono o, sayo fukete, katabuku made no, tsuki o mishi kana)

signed Yoshitoshi with artist's seal Taiso and block carver's seal Horiko Enkatsu at lower right, with publisher's information of Akiyama Buemon on lower left margin, along with incomplete date, ca. 1887

oban tate-e 13 7/8 by 9 1/2 in., 35.2 by 24.1 cm

This composition references the poem in the title which was written by the female Heian Period poet Akazome Emon (956-1041). Written after a sleepless night, the verse describes the disappointment of a woman watching the moon while waiting for a lover who never came. The beauty is depicted in upper class Heian fashion, with her eyebrows shaved and redrawn on her forehead in a manner intended to represent the antennae of silk moth.

The Meiji Period date on the left margin is missing the year and the month, only the 6th day is indicated. According to John Stevenson, the signature style is most similar to other designs from this series dated 1887, and it is likely that this print was released with a batch of two other designs on the 6th day of the first month of 1887.

References:
John Stevenson, Yoshitoshi's One hundred aspects of the moon, 2001, cat. no. 44

(inv. no. 10-3389)

price: Sold