Description: A little history lesson first, courtesy of Yoshitoshi.net and Wikipedia ... Yoshitoshi (芳年, 1839-1892) is generally considered the last great master of the Japanese woodblock print (ukiyo-e) - and by some, one of the great innovative and creative geniuses of that artistic field.During his life, he produced a large number of prints, estimated by some authorities at over 10,000 in total; this included many series of prints, many of great merit, as well as numerous diptychs, triptychs, etc. This site attempts to provide an online catalogue raisonné of his entire output. His career spanned two eras - the last years of the old feudal Japan, and the first years of the new modern Japan. Like many Japanese, while interested in the new things from the rest of the world, over time he became increasingly concerned with the loss of many outstanding things from the traditional Japan, among them the classic woodblock print. By the end of his career, Yoshitoshi was in an almost single-handed struggle against time and technology. As he worked on in the old manner, Japan was adopting the mass reproduction methods of the West, like photography and lithography. Nonetheless, in a Japan that was turning away from its own past, he almost single-handedly managed to push the traditional Japanese woodblock print to a new level, before it effectively died with him. While demand for his prints continued for a few years, eventually interest in him waned, both in Japan, and around the world. The canonical view in this period was that the generation of Hiroshige was really the last of the great woodblock artists, and more traditional collectors stopped even earlier, at the generation of Utamaro and Toyokuni. However, starting in the 1970's, interest in him resumed, and re-appraisal of his work has shown the quality, originality and genius of the best of it, and the degree to which he succeeded in keeping the best of the old Japanese woodblock print, while pushing the field forward by incorporating both new ideas from the West, as well as his own innovations. Kitagawa Utamaro (Japanese: 喜多川 歌麿; c. 1753 – 31 October 1806) was a Japanese artist. He is one of the most highly regarded designers of ukiyo-e woodblock prints and paintings, and is best known for his bijin ōkubi-e "large-headed pictures of beautiful women" of the 1790s. He also produced nature studies, particularly illustrated books of insects. Little is known of Utamaro's life. His work began to appear in the 1770s, and he rose to prominence in the early 1790s with his portraits of beauties with exaggerated, elongated features. He produced over 2000 known prints and was one of the few ukiyo-e artists to achieve fame throughout Japan in his lifetime. In 1804 he was arrested and manacled for fifty days for making illegal prints depicting the 16th-century military ruler Toyotomi Hideyoshi, and died two years later. Utamaro's work reached Europe in the mid-nineteenth century, where it was very popular, enjoying particular acclaim in France. He influenced the European Impressionists, particularly with his use of partial views and his emphasis on light and shade, which they imitated. The reference to the "Japanese influence" among these artists often refers to the work of Utamaro. And now on to this listing ... Full disclosure here ... I know NOTHING about Japanese woodblock prints! I'll describe this item as completely and accurately as I can, but if you have any questions or concerns, please ask before purchase, as I do not allow returns or refunds. An eBayer who knows more about these things than I do says, based on the size, he thinks these are reproductions. This listing is for two rectangle woodblock prints. Between them is a small fan with another print. All three prints are of Japanese women. The back of the frame has a handwritten note taped to the center that reads: Single WomanMistress in Mosquito NetBy Yoshitoshi (1826-1902)_________________ Three Modern BeautiesShowing Distinctions of Women'sHair Style in Those DaysBy Utamaro Kitagawa(1753-1806) Note that the birth and death years of Yoshitoshi written here are different than the dates provided by Yoshitoshi.net. No problems at all with the prints or the frame other than a small bit of foxing on one print. Frame measures 15" X 13". If you are a collector of Yoshitoshi and/or Utamaro woodblock prints, this will make a fine addition to your collection. Will be wrapped with care and shipped with GOBS of packing material!I do not accept returns. Please examine the photos and description carefully, and ask questions if you are unsure. ABSOLUTELY NO RETURNS OR EXCHANGES.
Price: 32.75 USD
Location: DeLand, Florida
End Time: 2024-11-26T12:49:21.000Z
Shipping Cost: N/A USD
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Item Specifics
All returns accepted: ReturnsNotAccepted
Provenance: Ownership History Not Available
Culture: Japanese
