“Great master of Ukiyo-e “

Remebering

Yoshitoshi

Born April 30, 1839 Edo Japan

Died June 9th, 1982

Nationaitlity Japaneese

Field Ukiyo-e

Timetable

Yoshitoshi Tsukioka lived during a period of incredible turmoil and upheaval in Japan. After the forced opening of the country by a US fleet, Japan underwent an often bloody transition from the classical Shogunate to modern Japan.

Yoshitoshi’s personal life was like an analogy of this difficult era. The struggle for survival in a new world and the constant fight between tradition and westernization characterized his life. Yoshitoshi prints represent the traditional Japanese values.

The given name of Yoshitoshi was Yonejiro. We do not know much about his youth. But all indications are, that it was not a very pleasant one. His father had taken a mistress and the boy was apparently unwanted. He was brought up by his uncle.

At the age of eleven, Yoshitoshi was enrolled as a student of the school of Kuniyoshi Utagawa, the great artist of ukiyo-e. One of his school class mates was Yoshiiku. Yoshiiku bullied the younger Yoshitoshi. The rivalry and hostility between both should continue for the rest of their lives.

At the age of fourteen, Yoshitoshi composed his first woodblock print - a triptych of the naval battle of Dannoura in which the Minamoto clan destroyed the forces of the Taira clan in 1185. The same year, in 1853, US Commodore Perry arrived with a fleet of battle ships and forced the opening of Japan to the West.

Kuniyoshi was like a father towards Yoshitoshi. After his master had passed away in 1861, hard times were ahead of the young student. He barely had enough commissions to survive.

The early sixties were a period of great unrest and civil war-like skirmishes between proponents of the old Shogun government and their opponents who gathered around the emperor. During the Shogunate, that is since 1192, the Japanese Emperors had been powerless.

W

In addition to the political instability, a devastated economy made things worse for ordinary citizens. Japan was then in a deep recession, plagued by hyper inflation and by crop failures.

In 1868 the last Shogun resigned after 2000 men of his troops were badly defeated by an imperial force in the bloody battle of Ueno. It was more of a massacre than a battle. The imperial soldiers were well-equipped with modern guns while their enemies fought with swords.

Hideyori’s consort Kita no Kata standing by a window.

Looking relaxed

Yoshitoshi eye-witnessed this battle. Immediately afterwards he composed many prints with extremely bloody and gruesome scenes - often with a black background. Certainly, these Yoshitoshi prints must be seen in connection with the events that took place in these years of upheaval. Besides, the publishing of ukiyo-e prints was always driven by the thrive for commercial success. And not much different from today’s tabloid press, themes with blood, sex and crime sold well.

Looking feminine

Looking amuesed

•With the Meiji Restoration, Yoshitoshi experi-enced a short period of modest commercial success followed by a sharp decline in commissions and bitter poverty.

•In 1873 he recovered from his depressions and changed his name to Taiso, which means “great resurrection.

•In the eighties, Yoshitoshi Tsukioka was finally financially settled. He moved into a huge house of his own and married a woman from the pleasure quarters. His school flourished. In 1882 he was employed by a newspaper.

He died on June 9, 1892 from a cerebral hermor-rhage at the age of 53.

More facts

Looking weighed down More Facts

•In the eighties, Yoshitoshi was able to steady his life, moved to a large house, and married another mistress with three chil-dren named Sakamaki Taiko.

•Yoshitoshi’s reputation grew as he relentlessly composed a great number of prints, in spite of his bad health

•He died on June 9, 1892 from a cerebral hemorrhage

Looking tasty

More Facts•By 1869, Yoshitoshi was regard-ed as one of the best woodblock artists in Japan.

•However, shortly thereafter, he ceased to receive commissions, perhaps because the public were tired of scenes of violence •By 1871, Yoshitoshi became severely depressed, and his per-sonal life became one of great turmoil

Beauties by Yotoshi 1877-1888Beauties by Yotoshi 1877-1888

Designed by Stephanie Harris Sh