Meiko, Hidari Jingoro 名工 左甚五郎 / Gekko zuihitsu 月耕随筆

From Gekko's celebrated "Gekko zuihitsu" (Gekko's Miscellany) series, this print depicts Hidari Jingoro, the legendary Edo-period master woodcarver traditionally credited with the Nemuri-neko (Sleeping Cat) at Nikko Toshogu. The title "Meiko" (skilled craftsman) frames the subject as a tribute to artisanal excellence. Gekko likely shows Jingoro at work or contemplating a carved figure, a subject that allowed the artist to embed still-life detail—tools, wood shavings, sculptural objects—within a figurative composition. The "Zuihitsu" series was notable for its eclectic range of subjects drawn from legend, history, and nature, printed in oban format with restrained palette choices that favored ink tonality over saturated color.