Yoshitoshi: One Hundred Aspects of the Moon and the Last Great Ukiyo-e Master
Tsukioka Yoshitoshi (1839–1892) is often called the last great master of ukiyo-e. He trained in the old woodblock tradition, lived through the fall of the shogunate and the transformation of Meiji Japan, and poured that upheaval into prints of extraordinary intensity. Collectors prize him for drama, psychology and technical brilliance.
A turbulent career
Yoshitoshi studied under Utagawa Kuniyoshi, the master of warrior prints. His early work reflects the violence of the 1860s, as the shogunate collapsed into civil war. In the early 1870s he suffered a breakdown and poverty, and he re-emerged with a new art name, Taiso, meaning great resurrection. The rest of his career produced his greatest work.
One Hundred Aspects of the Moon
Published between 1885 and 1892, Tsuki hyakushi is Yoshitoshi's masterpiece: one hundred prints in which the moon connects scenes from history, legend, poetry and theatre. Some are quiet, a woman listening to insects or a poet in a boat; others are charged with tension. The printing is exceptionally refined, with embossing, burnishing and subtle colour.
New Forms of Thirty-six Ghosts
Yoshitoshi's last series, produced from 1889, presents ghosts and supernatural tales with psychological depth rather than mere horror. Its designs are among the most sought-after of the Meiji period.
What collectors look for
- Printing quality: embossing, burnishing and fine lines are signs of a good impression.
- Colour: Meiji prints use imported aniline dyes, including strong reds and purples, which fade in light.
- Margins: the series' prints have margins carrying the title cartouche and publisher's information.
- Condition: toning, stains and trimming.
Questions collectors ask
Are there later editions of the Moon series?
Yes. The series was popular and reprinted, and later impressions and modern recuts exist. Early impressions show the finest printing.
Why is Yoshitoshi so collected now?
His work bridges the old and modern Japan and speaks strongly to contemporary taste, including manga and graphic design.
Are his violent early prints collected?
Yes, by specialists. They are historically important, though not for every wall.