Chilly- a concubine of the Bunka era

Catalog note / 解説

This artwork was created by Taiso Yoshitoshi (1839-1892) the last creative genius of woodblock prints of Meiji era. The print offered here belongs to the series “Fuzoku sanjuniso” (Thirty two Aspects of Daily Life) which was issued in 1888. The series shows women of different social classes from 1789 to Yoshitoshi’s present. The series followed a traditional format: a lighthearted comparison of women with the thirty two identifying features of the Buddha. It also consiously recalled the prints of Utamaro, who had explored female psychology through designs that emphasised a woman’s expression or article of dress. The print I’m offering here is #7 in the series and calls “Tsumetaso bunka nenk…