Teasing the Cat - Tsukioka Yoshitoshi

A woodblock print by Tsukioka Yoshitoshi depicting a woman from the Kansei era playing with a cat, from the series Thirty-two Aspects of Customs and Manners.

This woodblock print is part of the series Thirty-two Aspects of Customs and Manners (Fūzoku sanjūnisō), produced by Tsukioka Yoshitoshi in the late Meiji period. The series examines the psychological states and social habits of women from different historical eras. In this specific composition, a woman from the Kansei era (1789-1801) reclines while interacting with a white cat. The artist employs a flattened perspective, typical of the Ukiyo-e tradition, to focus the viewer on the interaction between the subject and the animal.

The woman wears a kimono featuring a bold, geometric pattern of triangles in green and purple, contrasted against a brown ground. Her hair is styled in a traditional fashion, adorned with a decorative hairpin. The cat, wearing a red collar with a small bell, looks towards her with an alert expression. Yoshitoshi captures a quiet, domestic moment, moving away from the more dramatic or violent themes found in his earlier work. The print demonstrates his technical skill in woodblock carving and colour application, particularly in the fine lines of the hair and the subtle shading of the cat's fur.

Yoshitoshi is often regarded as the last great master of the Ukiyo-e genre. His work bridges the gap between traditional Japanese aesthetics and the changing visual culture of the Meiji era. By focusing on the specific customs of the Kansei period, he provides a window into the historical imagination of his contemporaries. The print is a fine example of his ability to combine historical research with a keen eye for human behaviour. The composition is balanced, with the woman's form and the cat's posture creating a gentle, circular movement that draws the eye across the paper.