Geisha by Cherry Trees at 3;00 p.m 1880

Tsukioka Yoshitoshi created this woodblock print, "Geisha by Cherry Trees at 3:00 p.m.," to evoke a fleeting moment. The composition is strikingly layered, moving from the geisha in the foreground to the cherry trees behind, and a smaller scene at the top. Yoshitoshi employs distinct color blocks to separate these layers: the deep blues and reds of the geisha's kimono contrast with the pale pinks and whites of the cherry blossoms. Consider how the shapes—the geometric patterns on the kimono versus the organic forms of the blossoms—create a visual dialogue. The woodblock technique itself flattens the image, challenging Western notions of perspective and depth. This flattening emphasizes the surface, drawing attention to the materiality of the print. Yoshitoshi uses a semiotic system of signs, where each element—the geisha, the cherry blossoms, the colors—carries cultural codes and meanings. This challenges fixed meanings as we question how Yoshitoshi used the structure of the printmaking to offer a layered commentary on beauty, time, and representation. The interplay between form and content creates a sense of transience, making us aware of art’s ongoing interpretation.