Title
The moon's four strings - Semimaru, from the series One hundred aspects of the moon
August 1891
Artist
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Details
- Alternative title
- tsuki no yotsu no o - Semimaru
- Place where the work was made
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Japan
- Period
- Meiji period 1868 - 1912 → Japan
- Date
- August 1891
- Media category
- Materials used
- colour woodblock; ōban
- Dimensions
- 39.0 x 26.0 cm
- Signature & date
Signed and dated.
- Credit
- Yasuko Myer Bequest Fund 2012
- Location
- Not on display
- Accession number
- 258.2012.98
- Copyright
- Artist information
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Tsukioka Yoshitoshi
Works in the collection
- Share
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About
Semimaru was a blind poet and musician who served the son of Emperor Uda. He was both an historical character and the protagonist in a nō play, 'Semimaru'. When the prince died in 966 he moved to live in the mountains near Kyoto. Here, he is in a remote dilapidated house, playing a 'biwa' (Japanese lute), which has a design of a crescent moon on it. He is surrounded by wild grasses, and in the foreground are the autumn blossoms of beautiful flowers. Ironically, Semimaru cannot not see the beauty of the moon or his poverty stricken surroundings, and all he has left is the splendour of his music.
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Places
Where the work was made
Japan
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Exhibition history
Shown in 2 exhibitions
Theatre of dreams, theatre of play: no and kyogen in Japan, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney, 14 Jun 2014–14 Sep 2014
Yoshitoshi: One Hundred Aspects of the Moon, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney, 20 Aug 2016–20 Nov 2016
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Bibliography
Referenced in 3 publications
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Yuriko Iwakiri, Yoshitoshi Tsuki hyakushi (Yoshitoshi’s One hundred aspects of the moon), Tokyo, 2010. General reference; Another edition was reproduced
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John Stevenson, Yoshitoshi's One hundred aspects of the moon, Seattle, 1992, (colour illus.). cat.no.98; Another edition was reproduced
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Chris UHLENBECK, Yoshitoshi: masterpieces from the Ed Freis collection, Leiden, 2011, 135-136. General reference; Another edition was reproduced
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