ESSAYS BY YOSHITOSHI

Following a brief period of apparent inactivity for the artist for the majority of 1870, in which only one single actor print is recorded (Schaap 2011, no. 40), and 1871, in which he designed the scarce Boshin War series of Eight Views of Warriors in the Provinces (cat. nos. 36-38) published in the 1st lunar month, followed by the Tokyo restaurant series in the 9th lunar month when he seemed to allow his students freedom to produce an uncharacteristic bijin series, Yoshitoshi returned to his design work with gusto in a burst of energy with the production of this self-referential series, Essays by Yoshitoshi (Ikkai zuihitsu) which was published by Masadaya Heikichi (ca. 1869-1875; Seieido) starting in the 12th lunar month of 1872 and ceasing four months later. Ikkai was an early name for the artist, and this series is the first but not last time that the artist would include his name in a series title. While the figures are all historical, their stories are often based on legend and may depict episodes from novels, plays, and folklore if not historical record. To date there are thirteen recorded designs; however, it is not known how many were planned or produced. The somewhat scarce series is distinguished by the stretching oni (devil) incorporated along the edge of a banner-shaped title cartouche.