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KIYOCHIKA, Kobayashi   (1847 - 1915)		Hana-moyo  ('Flower Patterns') 'Beauty of the Manji Era (1658 - 1661)
		Signed:                        Kiyochika Artist's seal:              Kobayashi Kiyochika Publisher:                   Kokkeido (= Akiyama Buemon) Dated:                           1896 Size:                              oban triptych (c. 37 x 24. 5 cms / 14 1/2" x 9 5/8") each sheet Condition: Excellent impression, colors and condition. Full paper size with margins, three separate sheets. - With shomenzuri in the hair. ref. no: # 585022 Price: €  1,200.00

All of the triptychs in this series (ten are known) "feature the unusual composition of enlarged figures or busts of women against a distant background depicting customs of a particular historical era. The term 'patterns' (moyo would seem to refer both to the elegant designs of the costumes on the foreground figures and to the background tableaux. The 'flowers' of the series "Flower Patterns" are the beautiful women themselves... The titles of the ten prints refer to specific eras of the Tokugawa period..." (Henry D. Smith II). The above triptych represents the Manji Era (1658-61) in the series. The series is discussed in:  Henry D. Smith II, "KIYOCHIKA - Artist of Meiji Japan"; Santa Barbara Museum of Art, 1988; pp. 98-99.

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