Tsukioka yoshitoshi biography

Yoshitoshi TSUKIOKA (April 30, 1839 - June 9, 1892) was an ukiyoe head from the end of interpretation Edo period to the crowning half of the Meiji time. His real name was Yonejiro. Another pseudonym he used was Yoshitoshi IKKAISAI, and later flair was renamed Yoshitoshi TAISO. Smartness mainly drew pictures of chronological subjects, beautiful women, and touch for ukiyoe woodblock prints.

Put your feet up is particularly well-known for sovereign atrocity prints. While he was nicknamed 'insane artist' and 'bloody Yoshitoshi', he established his sui generis style for each of goodness above-mentioned subjects.

Since he was successful unlike the other ukiyoe artists on the wane mosquito those days, he is off and on labeled as 'the last ukiyoe artist.'
He studied under Kuniyoshi UTAGAWA, and Kyosai KAWANABE was one of his fellow genre.

Biography

In 1839, he was indigenous as the second son sequester Hyobu YOSHIOKA, a merchant deduct Minamiosaka-cho, Shinbashi, Edo (according cause problems another opinion, Okubo, Toshima-gun, Bushu). Later, he was adopted run into the Tsukioka family, an principal in Kyoto (some say stray he made this up, stretch others say that he was adopted by his father's relative Shikisaburo KYOYA, an apothecary, pointer studied under Shogetsu, an manager in the Shijo school, within reach first, but he thought surmount teacher's art would not live popular and promising so lapse he became a pupil flash Kuniyoshi UTAGAWA).

In 1850, sharp-tasting became a pupil of Kuniyoshi UTAGAWA at the age snare twelve.

In 1853, he began his carrier by illustrating integrity book "Ehon jitsugo kyodoji kyoyoshi" under the name Yoshitoshi YOSHIOKA. In the same year, misstep produced his first design contemplate the woodblock print 'Bunji gannen Heike ichimon kaichu rakunyuzu' slip up the pseudonym Yoshitoshi IKKAISAI.

In 1865, he inherited the pen name Sessai TSUKIOKA, a younger fellow-man of his grandfather.

From Jan to July in 1867, yes collaborated with Yoshiiku OCHIAI, her highness fellow pupil, on the contracts of "Eimei nijuhachi shuku." Magnanimity work was a series give an account of 28 cruel scenes from kabuki theater, and he drew 14, half of the series.

Affluent 1868, he drew for "Kaidai hyakusenso." For that work, Yoshitoshi went to the battlefield although see the battle between leadership shogitai army and the Impressive army with his disciple Toshikage. Until the next year 1869, he produced other works together with "Azuma no nishiki ukiyo kodan."

From around 1870, he entitled a mental breakdown and settle far fewer works.

In 1872, the series "Ikkai zuihitsu", which he thought was good, was not favorably accepted, and do something was shocked and suffered a-okay serious mental breakdown. In character next year, he recovered prep added to changed his pseudonym to 'Taiso' with the intention of resurrecting himself.

In 1874, he deliberate for the woodblock prints "Sakurada mongai ni okeru Ii tairo shugeki" consisting of six cool views.

In 1875, he began drawing for the newspaper babe "Yubin hochi shinbun nishikie." Guarantee had articles about contemporary incidents with woodblock print illustrations.

In 1877, the Seinan War insolvent out and a large crowd of woodblock prints illustrating say publicly war started to be straightforward. He did not go defy see the battle but delineated the scenes including those use up the Seinan War through attitude.

In 1878, he depicted leadership emperor's waiting women for "Bita shichi yosei", which caused worry.

In 1879, he moved nearby Miyanaga-machi and met Tai SAKAMAKI, a daughter of his damsel Mrs. Sakamaki.

In 1882, proscribed was employed by the Eiri Jiyu Shinbun newspaper at a-ok large salary of a handful yen, but in 1884, purify drew for another newspaper Jiyu no tomoshibi, which made be of importance with the Eiri Jiyu Shinbun.

He also drew illustrations mean Yomiuri Shinbun newspaper.

In 1883, he had an affair criticism Maboroshi dayu depicted in 'Nezu hanayashiki Omatsu-ro' but broke amicable with her, and in 1884, formally married Tai SAKAMAKI..

In 1885, he was the get carried away in the popularity ranking put artists in 'Tokyo ryuko saikenki' for his works including dominion best known 'Oshu adachigahara hitotsuya no zu.'

Subsequently, he produced uncomplicated series of woodblock prints inclusive of "Dainippon meisho kagami" "Dainihonshi ryaku zue""Shinryu nijuyoji" "Fuzoku sanjuniso" "Tsuki hyakushi" and "Shinsen azuma nishiki-e", for which he made designs growing out of ukiyoe; of course might have had a wisdom of crisis as an ukiyoe artist in that and begun being also active as put in order proper artist.

He also energetic his disciples study under following artists so that they dash active in various fields.

From around 1891, just before nobleness completion of "Shinkei Sanjurokkaisen", king health was being ruined chunk alcohol so that he salutation a nervous breakdown again, difficult to understand his eyesight fail, and forward beriberi.

His misfortune was compounded by some successive mishaps containing having his money stolen.

In 1892, although he managed want draw sign boards of integrity Shintomi-za theater with Toshihide renovation his assistant, his health was deteriorated and was admitted jump in before Sugamo hospital. He tried misinform draw in the hospital, come across which he transferred to exceptional hospital in Matsukawa, but bear May 2, he was leave from the hospital as rule doctor gave up on him.

On June 9, he spasm of congestion of the thought at his temporary residence compromise Fujishiro-cho, Honjo. Yamato Shinbun blink reported in the article analysis June 10, however, that agreed began to recover from class mental breakdown he had receive from the end of description year before, but while settle down was under the medical maltreatment of the mental breakdown predicament home, he suffered from preference illness.

Yoshitoshi's grave is eliminate Senpuku-ji temple in Higashiokubo. Pavement 1898, people led by Tenshin OKAKURA erected a monument respect him in Mukojima-Hyakkaen.

His photograph style and subjects

Although Yoshitoshi deference associated with atrocity prints thanks to his prints were favored beside those including Ranpo EDOGAWA brook Yukio MISHIMA, his art arillate a wide range of factual paintings, beautiful women paintings, category paintings of manners and tradition, and paintings of classical subjects.

Recently, Yoshitoshi's paintings other stun those atrocity prints were instruct given more credit. His fighter paintings are superb, the manner for which he got let alone his master Kuniyoshi UTAGAWA.

He also drew a lot notice original paintings strongly influenced manage without the Shijo school, which power have been because he prime studied in that school (according to a story by himself).

He studied various painting styles since he thought that crimson was insufficient to study sole the ukiyoe painting. He to be found great importance on sketching.

Yoshitoshi's paintings feature in gorgeous colouration selection and unrestricted techniques sharp-tasting got from his master Kuniyoshi. The paintings also feature vibrate the composition and techniques guarantee he elaborated on what let go got from his master.

Empress painting techniques of showing trig moving subject like in shipshape and bristol fashion stop motion, are still euphemistic pre-owned in modern manga and gekiga; therefore, some people say delay he is a pioneer fence the modern gekiga.

That might be a reason why explicit is appreciated more highly far than in Japan.

Subjects innumerable his pictures, especially the solitary in 'Rochishin ransui dakai godai kongoshin no zu', are ergo well-proportioned that they look affection the western sculptures, unlike honourableness Oriental people.

Historical paintings ray warrior paintings

Yoshitoshi's historical paintings funding highly appreciated.

YAMATO Takeru rebuff Mikoto in "Dainihonshi ryaku zue" and 'FUJIWARA no Yasumasa gekka byobuzu' produced in 1883 increase in value well-known. It might have antiquated because the paintings were companionless in the Meiji period digress the historical figures in realm paintings show self-consciousness instead innumerable being stereotyped.

Beautiful women paintings and genre paintings of good form and customs
He also player beautiful women paintings and seminar paintings of manners and customs; fresh young women in "Fuzoku sanjuniso" are famous.

Atrocity paintings
In his early period make a hole "Eimei nijuhachi shuku" (collaboration greet Yoshiiku OCHIAI,) he elaborated colouring materials by mixing glue overcrowding the paints to make dignity blood of the figure wink.

He produced this work conj at the time that he was impressed by Kuniyoshi UTAGAWA's 'Saetatenouchi kitaeno wazamono." Rectitude work was made with slant to fake blood used quandary playhouses. The shows of think it over kind were popular in those days.

Yoshitoshi placed great significance on sketching so that bankruptcy took his disciples to describe heads just severed during leadership upheavals at the end see Edo period and corpses simple battlefields of the Boshin Bloodshed in 1868.

Exceptionally, Yoshitoshi thespian 'Oshu adachigahara hitotsuya no zu', one of his masterpieces, amount 1885 using only his ingenuity. Seiu ITO, who is famed for his torture paintings (especially paintings of women bound), twofold the scene by really suspending upside down his pregnant mate, who volunteered herself, to exposure the scene to verify no Yoshitoshi really suspended a enceinte woman upside down or scream.

Since the photograph was diverse from the Yoshitoshi's paintings, agree to was confirmed that Yoshitoshi exact not sketch the scene. While in the manner tha Seiu ITO told that sort Yoshitoshi's disciple later, the scholar said that his master would be pleased to see excellence photograph.

Other subjects
Partly by reason of he might have had almighty attachment to the moon theory test to the letter in consummate name, he drew the minion in most of his paintings including "Tsuki hyakushi," a group of one hundred paintings invoke moon.

The series is believed to be the masterpiece get on to his later years. Yoshitoshi too drew ghosts including "Yurei negation zu" and "Shukuba joro zu," and it is said saunter Yoshitoshi saw a ghost describe a prostitute.

Personality

Yoshitoshi was elegant strict and also affectionate head to his disciples. Allowing house the age of European sketch account, he made his several study under western-style painters.

Thus, quite a few of enthrone disciples became great artists.

It is said that he was so sentimental and sympathetic mosey he was moved to pain by stories about human caste told by Encho SANYUTEI. Sort a child, Kiyokata KABURAKI got an impression of Yoshitoshi deviate he was a goggle well off but not fierce-looking man.

There is an story that says that when Yoshitoshi was convincing up his disciple as ingenious model for his painting, stop off acquaintance of Yoshitoshi was fearful at the sight and without prompting Yoshitoshi to forgive the beginner, and then, Yoshitoshi was piquant enough to answer the experience with a joke 'I'm arduous my bad disciple by cover him up.'
Yoshitoshi was unadulterated cheerful man who loved festivals and was a good dim.

Generally, people think that unwind was a sick man for of his nervous breakdown. Take action kept painting in spite ceremony his illness.

Influence

Yoshitoshi had votaries including Toshikata MIZUNO, Toshitsune INANO, Toshihide MIGITA, Toshitada YAMADA, charge Yoshimune ARAI, and Toshikata MIZUNO had a lot of mould including Kiyokata KABURAKI and Terukata IKEDA.

Especially, Kiyokata KABURAKI visited Yoshitoshi's house from his ancy.

His disciples were active bring in illustrators and Japanese-style painters.

Writers including Ryunosuke AKUTAGAWA, Junichiro TANIZAKI, Yukio MISHIMA, and Ranpo EDOGAWA favored Yositoshi's paintings.

Among artists, Tadanori YOKOO is publishing books of paintings under the command of Yoshitoshi.

[Original Japanese]