Looking Shy - The Appearance of a Young Girl of the Meiji Era - Tsukioka Yoshitoshi

A woodblock print from 1888 by Tsukioka Yoshitoshi, depicting a young woman in a plaid kimono, representing the changing fashions of the Meiji era.

This woodblock print by Tsukioka Yoshitoshi, produced in 1888, belongs to the series 'Thirty-two Aspects of Customs and Manners'. The series captures the shifting social norms and aesthetic preferences during the Meiji period. Yoshitoshi, often regarded as the last major master of the ukiyo-e tradition, documents the transition from the Edo era to a modernising Japan through the depiction of women from various social strata.

The subject is a young woman captured in a moment of private reflection. Her posture, with one hand raised to her mouth, suggests a sense of modesty or hesitation. The artist employs a refined line quality to delineate her features and the elaborate structure of her hairstyle. The composition focuses on the figure, set against a neutral background that allows the pattern of her clothing to take prominence. Her kimono features a bold, yellow-and-black plaid design, contrasted with a purple-and-white polka-dot collar and a red-patterned sash. These textile choices reflect the adoption of Western-influenced patterns that became fashionable in late nineteenth-century Japan.

Yoshitoshi uses colour with precision, balancing the muted tones of the background with the saturated hues of the garment. The inclusion of traditional Japanese calligraphy in the upper right corner provides context, identifying the specific social custom or mood being portrayed. This print serves as a record of the aesthetic sensibilities of the time, documenting how traditional Japanese dress began to incorporate new visual motifs. The work demonstrates the technical skill of the carvers and printers who collaborated with Yoshitoshi, maintaining the high standards of the ukiyo-e craft during a period of rapid cultural change.