Taiso YOSHITOSHI (1839-1892)

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A complete set of six chuban prints (two-to-a-sheet) of Neko nezumi kassen, “The War of Cats and Mice.” Shows 1) Cats frightened by a toy dog. Below: A cat setting a mousetrap. 2) Cats tempted by a delicious smell. Below: Mice eating while a cat sleeps. 3) A cat with its head in a bag. Below: Mice attacked by cats. Of the utmost rarity: One other complete set in the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston (accession numbers 11.37779, 11.37780, 11.37781). An extremely early work published when Yoshitoshi was 20 and his first set. Published 1859 by Enshuya Hikobei. Provenance: Purchased from me in the early 1990s.

Superb impressions. Very fine colour. Album backing, otherwise fine condition. The best examples extant. Signed Ikkaisai Yoshitoshi gihitsu and Yoshitoshi giga.

Status: Sold