LOT 027
PROVENANCEAcquired in Japan by a Private Collection, Toronto, 1950sBy descent to the present Private Collection, Toronto
A silk covered accordion album comprising 100 prints from the series Tsukihyakushi (One Hundred Aspects of the Moon), including the table of contents and presentation page for the National Industrial Exhibition. Signed Yoshitoshi and published by Akiyama Buemon, 1885-1892.Yoshitoshi’s 100 Aspects of the Moon (Tsukihyakuso, 1885–1892) stands as one of the definitive masterpiece of the late Meiji Period ukiyo-e (floating world) genre. Published during a transformative era of rapid modernization, the series captured the public's imagination instantly with eager collectors famously queued outside print shops on publication days to secure each new design.Unified by the recurring motif of the moon, the 100 prints traverse Japanese history, folklore, classical theater, and historical lore. The collection also integrates legendary Chinese figures long assimilated into Japanese cultural consciousness. Narrative scope ranges from heroic warriors and tragic figures to vivid portraits of everyday life and the supernatural, showcase Yoshitoshi’s dramatic mastery of composition, colour, and psychological depth.Complete sets of the 100 prints preserved in their original state are extraordinarily rare, with few ever appearing at auction. This exceptional example boasts a distinguished exhibition history, having been assembled for the historic Japanese Industrial Exhibition in Ueno Park during the late Meiji period.
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