Fuji Arts Complete Moon Set - This complete original Yoshitoshi 100 Aspects of the Moon set was purchased from a Japanese collection. It is a fine set and is an extremely rare find. All 100 prints plus the two table of contents pages as well as the memorial portrait are included. Complete sets are almost never offered on the market. They are rarely sold and usually held undisclosed and unoffered. Contact us for further information on this set. A full set of photos can be viewed at the link below. Viewing in our Ann Arbor office is possible, by appointment, for established clients.
One Hundred Aspects of the Moon - Considered his masterwork, Yoshitoshi's series One Hundred Aspects of the Moon features one hundred oban size woodblocks, published between 1885 and 1892. These quiet and reflective prints, beautifully composed and drawn, feature subjects from traditional Japanese and Chinese history and legend, rendered with great sensitivity and emotion. The moon appears in all but a few prints, providing a unifying motif for the series.
Yoshitoshi's innovative designs for the Moon series are often elegantly spare, with simple backgrounds that focus attention on the human figure. He combines the western influences of realism and perspective with qualities from traditional Japanese and Chinese painting, such as the emphasis on calligraphic brushstroke. The figures are carefully drawn with beautiful linework, conveying a real sense of individual character, gesture, and emotion. Special printing techniques such as embossing and burnishing add a sumptuous touch where appropriate, but simple subjects are conveyed in a likewise manner, no less carefully observed.
Prints from the series were released singly or in groups every few months, with the final image completed shortly before Yoshitoshi's death. The series proved tremendously popular, with patrons lining up to purchase the new releases as soon as they became available. Today, One Hundred Aspects of the Moon remains Yoshitoshi's most well-known work, characterized by his artistry, compassion, and sensitivity in portraying the human experience.
Artist - Yoshitoshi (1839 - 1892)
Size - Prints: 9" x 13" + margins as shown, Book: 9 3/4" x 14 1/2"
Condition and printing - Prints: This item with excellent color, beautifully printed with sharp detail. Folio stored and retaining full color. Some light toning or minor soiling at edges – very little and typical. This set is well above average for Yoshitoshi’s moon prints. Some offsetting on a few subjects from folio storage. Backed with old paper as part of the folio organization. Attached end to end, accordion style, at edges only - could be easily separated into loose prints. Nice full margins. Please see examples in gallery linked below for a sense of condition. Book: Some light toning and wear at edges and corners of cover. A few light spots. Some wear at edges. Some partial separation between pages, some separated fully in a few sections through folio. This is a complete set of prints and that separation has no bearing on value.
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Payment Note: We can not accept credit card or Paypal payment on this item. The preferred method of payment is wire transfer, checks will also be accepted pending clearance. Any Fuji Arts account holder can reserve this item by contacting us by e-mail or phone. Please contact the Fuji Arts team at 734-994-3335 to reserve and discuss payment.
Examples from the Set
