Tsukioka Yoshitoshi

Tsukioka Yoshitoshi, born on April 30, 1839 in Edo, now Tokyo, was a Japanese woodblock print artist who is considered one of the last great masters of ukiyo-e. His career began at a time of change, as Japan evolved from the isolated Edo period to the modern Meiji era. Yoshitoshi was known for his dramatic and often violent depictions, which included both historical and mythological themes. Despite a difficult start to his career, marked by financial difficulties and mental health problems, he managed to establish himself as one of the leading artists of his time.

Yoshitoshi's work is notable for his ability to combine traditional Japanese art with Western influences that entered Japan during the Meiji Restoration. His work is characterized by vivid colors, complex compositions, and deep emotional intensity. He was a master at depicting movement and emotion, which gave his prints a unique vibrancy. Yoshitoshi was also a pioneer in the use of new printmaking techniques that allowed him to achieve finer details and more vibrant colors. Despite the challenges he faced, including the decline of the ukiyo-e tradition and the rise of photography, Yoshitoshi remained true to his art and left behind an impressive legacy.

Interesting fact:

Yoshitoshi was not only a master of art, but also a man with a keen sense of humor. It is said that he once made a print of a famous samurai that was so lifelike that the samurai himself, upon seeing it, exclaimed, "I didn't know I looked so fearsome!" In addition, Yoshitoshi was known for his eccentric personality. He is said to have once gotten up in the middle of the night in a fit of inspiration to start a new print, only to discover that he had forgotten to buy paper. Undeterred by this minor obstacle, he cut the print into the back of an old woodblock print he found in his studio.

Important works of art & pictures by Tsukioka Yoshitoshi:

1. "One Hundred Aspects of the Moon" (Tsuki hyakushi), 1885-1892
2. "New Forms of 36 Spirits" (Shinkei Sanjurokkaisen), 1889-1892
3. "Bloody Prints" (Muzan-e), 1866
4. "32 Aspects of Women" (Fuzoku Sanjuniso), 1888
5. "The Battle of Okehazama" (Okehazama kassen), 1866
6. "The Death of Kiyomori" (Kiyomori no shi), 1883
7. "The Moon over Mount Dongting" (Dotō no tsuki), 1886
8. "The Ghost of Genta Yoshihira" (Genta Yoshihira no rei), 1886
9. "The Moon over the Yodo River" (Yodogawa no tsuki), 1886
10. "The Moon over Mount Mikasa" (Mikasa no tsuki), 1886

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