Enlightenment of the Courtesan Jigokudayū
1890
Meet Jigokudayū, a legendary courtesan whose nickname 'Hell Dayu' hinted that her beauty was dangerous enough to damn a man's soul! Here, the 'last great master' of ukiyo-e, Tsukioka Yoshitoshi, captures her in a moment of quiet reflection beside a tall torch, glancing back over her shoulder with elaborate golden hair ornaments cascading down. This piece comes from his famous 'New Forms of Thirty-Six Ghosts' series, created in 1890 just before his death. Unlike his earlier, gruesome 'bloody prints,' this work shows a sophisticated, psychological depth as he tried to preserve traditional Japanese art against the rising tide of Western influence.
- Technique
- Woodblock print
- Material
- Paper
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