37 Tsukioka Yoshitoshi 1839 – 1892 Moral Lessons Through Pictures of Good and Evil

Japan, 11th Month, 1880 (Meiji period)

This original and visually captivating sheet is the work of one of the last great masters of ukiyo-e, Tsukioka Yoshitoshi. The print originates from his unique and highly sought-after 1880 series "Moral Lessons Through Pictures of Good and Evil". Yoshitoshi personifies abstract human concepts in an incredibly imaginative way: good and evil appear as tiny humanoids bearing the corresponding kanji character on their faces. While good spirits are depicted in fine clothing, this particular scene is entirely dominated by the evil ones. Dressed crudely only in their underwear, these evil spirits gleefully incite the older man towards violence and immorality, actively pulling at the young woman's garments to encourage the misconduct. It is a fantastic demonstration of Yoshitoshi's vivid imagination, his characteristic attention to detail, and his ability to capture the dynamic psychology of his subjects.