Two court ladies rest against a red robe by a blue cascade

Two women in Heian court dress are set against a deep crimson silk ground spilling in heavy folds. One kneels upright in a pale grey outer robe over the crimson layer; the other leans back against it, a round fan and a red cord ornament in her hands. Behind them a cobalt-blue cascade tumbles past pale rocks and a pine, framed by a red lacquered rail. Cartouches at the upper left name two court ladies; the signature and a red seal are at the upper right.

Tsukioka Yoshitoshi (1839–1892) was the last major master of ukiyo-e, working through the upheaval of the Meiji era. A pupil of Kuniyoshi, he moved from violent early war prints to the psychological intensity of his mature series — One Hundred Aspects of the Moon (1885–92) and New Forms of Thirty-Six Ghosts — in which history, legend and theatre are staged by moonlight. His draughtsmanship and unusual use of colour carried the woodblock print into the modern period. His prints are held by the British Museum, the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston and the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Printed as a museum-grade giclée on Hahnemühle fine art paper using 12-ink archival pigment printing. Available handframed in FSC-certified wood with optional float glass, or unframed. Ships worldwide with free delivery to 30+ countries.