Under the Moonflower Bower

by Yoshitoshi (active circa 1840 - 1880)

Current Status

Under the Moonflower Bower by Yoshitoshi (active circa 1840 - 1880)

Original Yoshitoshi (active circa 1840 - 1880) Japanese Woodblock Print
Under the Moonflower Bower

100 Aspects of the Moon (Tsuki hyakushi)
A Fuji Arts special offer auction

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.

Under the Moonflower Bower - Charming country scene of a peasant couple relaxing on a summer evening, resting on a straw mat beneath an arbor covered with a blossoming vine with gourds known as "yugao" or "evening faces." The woman holds a baby in her lap, the child's head just visible at left, one sleeve of her robe slipped down over the shoulder, perhaps to nurse the infant. The full moon glows in a softly shaded sky, framed by the delicate tendrils of the vine. The verse at upper right reads:

Pleasure is this
to lie cool under the moonflower bower
the man in his undershirt, the woman in her slip.

An attractive design with a soft color palette.

Artist - Yoshitoshi (active circa 1840 - 1880)

Image Size - 12 7/8" x 8 3/4" + margins as shown

Condition - This print with nice detail as shown. A few creases, staining. Please see photos for details.

Under the Moonflower Bower by Yoshitoshi (active circa 1840 - 1880)
Under the Moonflower Bower by Yoshitoshi (active circa 1840 - 1880)

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