Tsukioka Yoshitoshi (1839-1892)
'Looking Inquisitive: The Appearance of a Maid of the Tenpo Era' (Mitaso Tenpo nenkan okosho no fuzoku), from the series 'Thirty-two Aspects of Customs and Manners' (Fuzoku sanjuni so), 1888
Woodblock print, first edition with three-colour cartouche
Signed: 'Yoshitoshi ga'
Artist's seal: 'Taiso'
Publisher: Tsujiokaya Kamekichi (Kinkido)
Dated: 1888 (Meiji 21)
Signed: 'Yoshitoshi ga'
Artist's seal: 'Taiso'
Publisher: Tsujiokaya Kamekichi (Kinkido)
Dated: 1888 (Meiji 21)
Vertical oban:
37.7 x 25.6 cm. (14 ⅞ x 10 ⅛ in.)
37.7 x 25.6 cm. (14 ⅞ x 10 ⅛ in.)
Fine impression of the first edition, very good colour, embellished with blind-printing and 'shomenzuri' (surface printing) - a technique of surface polishing or burnishing. A small hole restored in the upper section, slight toning and a few light marks at top edge. Very good overall condition.
£ 3,000.00
The woman depicted here is an okosho - a maid in the service of a samurai family. She appears to be spying on something going on within a room, by...
The woman depicted here is an okosho - a maid in the service of a samurai family. She appears to be spying on something going on within a room, by peeping through the opening of sliding bamboo doors. She is dressed in a pink kimono with a delicate design of morning glories. The print is embellished with blind-printing and 'shomenzuri' (surface printing) - a technique of surface polishing or burnishing which has been used to accentuate the patterned details of the obi.
Another impression of the first edition is in the collection of The Minneapolis Museum of Art, accession no. 2017.106.205, go to:
https://collections.artsmia.org/art/127937/appearing-inquisitive-tsukioka-yoshitoshi
Another impression of the first edition is in the collection of The Minneapolis Museum of Art, accession no. 2017.106.205, go to:
https://collections.artsmia.org/art/127937/appearing-inquisitive-tsukioka-yoshitoshi