Yoshitoshi's Thirty-two Aspects of Women - Yoshitoshi's finest series of bijin-ga or pictures of beautiful women, "Thirty-two Aspects of Women" features portraits of beauties in a lighthearted reference to the thirty-two notable features of Buddha. The women depicted come from all social classes, representing beauties from the late 18th century through Yoshitoshi's own time.

Each design captures a woman in a scene from daily life, realistically and sensitively portrayed as individuals rather than idealized figures. Elegant fabrics are beautifully rendered, and hairstyles and facial features are drawn with the most delicate of lines. The series was beautifully printed using deluxe techniques, such as soft bokashi shading, embossing, and burnishing, creating some of the finest prints of the Meiji era.

"Thirty-two Aspects" proved popular with the public when first published, and has been appreciated by viewers and collectors ever since. Designs in this fantastic series are some of the most highly sought after woodblocks of the Meiji era, and are certainly considered masterworks of Yoshitoshi's career.

Inquisitive: the appearance of a maid of the Tempo era, No. 13 - A delightful print of a young maid from a samurai household. Young women from wealthy merchant families often worked at a samurai household for a few years to learn good manners. She peers from behind two reed curtains used in summer to replace solid doors, perhaps feeling a little homesick or excluded. The girl is elegantly dressed in a spring kimono decorated with morning glories, one of Yoshitoshi's favorite patterns. The black obi features a subtle black-on-black pattern of peonies, and the white kimono collar is delicately embossed. A beautiful and poignant design.

Artist - Yoshitoshi (1839 - 1892)

Image Size - 14" x 9 1/4" + margins

Condition - With excellent color and detail. One small tear along left edge, repaired from reverse. Light remnants from previous mounting on reverse. Please see photos for details. Nice overall.