Bon Festival Moon

by Yoshitoshi (1839 - 1892)

Current Status

Bon Festival Moon by Yoshitoshi (1839 - 1892)

Original Yoshitoshi (1839 - 1892) Japanese Woodblock Print
Bon Festival Moon

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.

Bon Festival Moon - Charming Yoshitoshi scene of men and women performing a traditional Bon Festival dance. The Bon Festival is devoted to the dead, but it is a happy occasion during which the spirits of the deceased are believed to return to the world of the living to feast and celebrate. The dancers grin as they prance about, striking poses and waving their arms and folding fans as large yellow full moon glows overhead. Nicely composed with a lively sense of movement and color, and fine bokashi shading in the background.

Artist - Yoshitoshi (1839 - 1892)

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

Condition - This print with excellent color and detail as shown. Backed with paper. Small tear and loss at edge, thinning spot at edge, repaired. Slight toning and soiling, a few marks. Light lines where backing papers meet. Please see photos for details.

Bon Festival Moon by Yoshitoshi (1839 - 1892)
Bon Festival Moon by Yoshitoshi (1839 - 1892)

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