A beautiful and undocumented tanzaku print by Yoshimoto Gesso in gorgeous condition. We’re unable to find any other instances of this print, however, we’re able to find one copy of an oban-sized print that looks to be related to this piece. Beautiful color, a composition and feel in the style of Ohara Koson.
The Woodblock Print
This o-tanzaku-sized woodblock (5.75″x14″) is in excellent condition; great color and detail, a clean verso. As is typical for pillar prints this one does not have any margins, but the edges are clean.
About the Artist
Yoshimoto Gesso is known for a large number of landscape and kacho-e (images of birds and flowers) designs published by Hasegawa and Nishinomiya, but little else is biographically known about him. These designs were very well crafted with artistic compositions made presumably for the export/foreign market. His work is very painterly, leading some to believe that he was a trained painter whose works were commissioned, and then transformed into woodblocks by the professional carvers and printers at Hasegawa and Nishinomiya, but that is speculation.
