A Collection of Desires - Yoshitoshi's "A Collection of Desires" series features charming scenes of beauties going about their daily routines. Each design illustrates a desire or wish, emphasizing the mood or emotion of each woman at that particular moment. The figures are beautifully drawn with fine line work in the expressive faces and hairstyles, and careful attention to the clothing and settings. These attractive subjects are much rarer than Yoshitoshi's "Thirty-two Aspects of Women" prints from a decade later. Hardly ever seen on the market, these handsome first edition designs are a nice complement to Yoshitoshi's more well known bijin series.

I Want to Have It Decided - Attractive portrait of a beauty leaning over a brazier, holding a piece of printed paper in her hands. Her freshly washed wet hair hangs loose over her shoulders, held back with a single comb in front. She grins as she looks to the side, perhaps pleased with what she has just read. Her outer kimono is trimmed with a burnished black collar, worn over a red under robe with a purple tie-dyed collar, a pale blue obi spread across her lap. An attractive subject with fine line work in the hair and soft shading in the background. The Boston Museum of Fine Arts has this image in its collection.

Artist - Yoshitoshi (1839 - 1892)

Image Size - 14" x 9 3/4" + margins as shown

Condition - This print with excellent color and detail as shown. Vertical fold near right edge. Paper reinforcement on reverse at side and stitching holes from previous folio binding, holes repaired. Faint toning, slight soiling, slight wrinkling near left edge. Please see photos for details. Good overall.