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Fujiwara Yasumasa playing the flute by moonlight
by Yoshitoshi Tsukioka (1839-1892) Taiso

	Artist:	Yoshitoshi Tsukioka (1839-1892) Taiso — 月岡芳年
	Title:	Fujiwara Yasumasa playing the flute by moonlight
	Series:
	Date of first edition?:	1883
	Publisher (first edition)?:	Akiyama Buemon (Kokkeido) — 秋山武右衛門
	Publisher (this edition)?:	Akiyama Buemon (Kokkeido) — 秋山武右衛門
	Medium (first edition):	Woodblock
	Medium (this edition):	Woodblock
	Format (first edition):	Triptych
	Format (this edition):	Triptych
	DB artwork code:	45763
	Notes (first edition)?:	Artist Yoshitoshi (1839 - 1892) Title Fujiwara Plays the Flute by Moonlight Date Of Work 1883 Publisher Akiyama Buemon Dimensions 14.25 x 29.25 Signed Oju Taiso Yoshitoshi sha. The Heian courtier Fujiwara no Yasumasa playing the flute by moonlight. Based on a painting Yoshitoshi exhibited at the Exhibition for the Advancement of Painting in the autumn of 1882. The story relates that while Fujiwara no Yasumasa was playing on Ichihara Moor he was approached by the bandit Kidomaru who intended to kill him. Instead he was overcome by the beauty of the music and gave up his plan. Yoshitoshi's painting was so well received, the subject was incorporated into a play with Ichikawa Danjuro IX playing Fujiwara no Yasumasa several months after the publication of the print. Published 1883 by Akiyama Buemon. Considered by cogniscenti to be Yoshitoshi's finest design.
	Notes (this edition)?:	The following information was taken from the original web listing of this artwork. Note that there may be some inaccuracies: Original Yoshitoshi (1839 - 1892) Japanese Woodblock print Playing the Flute; ORIGINALYoshitoshi Japanese print Comments - This image is indisputably Yoshitoshi’s masterpiece, and may be considered one of the greatest woodblock print designs of all time. The triptych illustrates a tale about the Heian-era nobleman, Fujiwara no Yasumasa, playing his flute on the lonely moor of Ichihara while walking home one night. His brother, Hakamadare Yasusuke (Kidomaru) snuck up on him, intent on robbing him of his elegant robe, but enchanted by Yasumasa's beautiful music, he stopped in his tracks. Kidomaru instead followed his brother home, who only then became aware of his presence and happily gave him a robe. Yoshitoshi shows Yasumasa absorbed in his playing, standing tall as the wind blows his robes about him, completely oblivious to his surroundings. Kidomaru crouches beside him, ready to draw his sword, completely entranced by the sound of his brother's flute. Misty clouds drift across a warm, yellow full moon glowing in the softly shaded evening sky. The tall grasses are beautifully drawn and seem to rustle in the night breeze, providing an atmospheric setting for the scene. A beautifully composed and lyrical design, capturing a moment in time and transporting the viewer to the scene. A finely detailed printing with beautifully executed bokashi shading and traces of mica. This is an especially fine example of this Meiji masterwork. All three sheets are 100% intact, no trimming, wide full margins as shown. Artist - Yoshitoshi (1839 - 1892) Image Size - 28" x 14" + margins as shown Condition - With excellent color and detail. Three separate prints (not attached). A thin archival backing. Some faint soiling in margins as shown. Please see photos for details. Very nice overall.