Details

A beautiful woman, possibly a Geisha, clad in traditional Japanese dress, sits with folded hands as she leans against a traditional charcoal hibachi waiting for the water to boil for her tea. She is lost in thought with a wistful expression. The handwritten text in Japanese at the right reads, In the hospital, when I get bored with nothing to do, I draw what easily comes to mind.” The longing in the woman’s face is far more than impatience for her tea—her wait is the artist’s wait. Her longing is the artist's longing to return to work.

It is interesting to consider Yoshitoshi Mori's choice of subject, as a Geisha is considered a highly respected artistic profession—one that preserves and embodies traditional Japanese aesthetics and ideals. Like the Geisha, Mori's work in stencil prints continues the centuries-old craft and the artist's subject matter, inspired by traditional Japanese folklore, embodies the spirit of old Japan in the here and now.

Connoisseur's Note

This charming and thought-provoking work is a rare original drawing executed in crayon and color pencil on paper. Although the work showcases the artist's quick sketching hand, the composition is detailed with patterns delineated throughout the woman’s kimono, as well as the great care taken to the articulation of the woman's face. The work is dated 1992 and was executed in the hospital during the artist final illness.