100 Aspects of the Moon # 100 by Tsukioka Yoshitoshi

Artist: Tsukioka Yoshitoshi (Taiso) (1839-1892)

Woodblock Print Title: One Hundred Aspects of the Moon # 100 Farmers celebrating the autumn moon

1st Publication: 1891

Size: Oban; 13-1/2" x 9-1/4" (34 x 23.5 cm)

Date of this edition: 1891

Publisher: Akiyama Buemon.

Condition: A couple of small stains, else very fine.

More about this print: Matsuo Basho (1644-1694) was the most famous poet of the Edo period in Japan, and the recognized master of the Haiku. He made a living as a teacher, but renounced the social and urban life of the literary circles, and wandered throughout the country to gain inspiration for his writing. His poems are influenced by his firsthand experience of the world around him, often catching the feelings of a scene in a few simple elements. Here Basho is leaning on his staff when he encounters two farmers celebrating the mid-autumn moon festival. The Haiku reads: "Since the crescent moon, I have been waiting for tonight."

Pictures: Pictures are taken outdoor, in the shade, to reflect true colors, without any enhancements of any kind. The last picture is taken indoor, with a light behind the print, to reveal the exact paper grain, holes if any, or other possible flaws.