By Tsukioka Yoshitoshi (1839-1892), Gravemarker Moon, 1886, color woodblock print. As a print, it appears in many collections, both public and private. This image is from the British Museum, London. #arthistory #art #printmaking #woodblockprints #japaneseart
From the University of Oregon, The Lavenberg Collection of Japanese Prints: “The old woman seated on the fallen grave marker is the celebrated beauty and poetess Ono no Komachi (9th century). Komachi lost her beauty, position, and wealth, but after wandering destitute for many years, gained enlightenment.”
One of Komachi’s poems:
“The autumn night
is long only in name—
We’ve done no more
than gaze at each other
and it’s already dawn.”
Translated by Jane Hirshfield and Mariko Arantani