Akashi Gidayu

A bearded, long-haired man kneels on a pale blue-green floor, gripping an unsheathed sword in both hands as he examines or tests its blade; the empty black scabbard lies on the floor before him, and a folded paper document rests to his side. Behind him a screen or door frame in brown and gold panels fills the right background, while at upper left a large, wild-eyed striped animal face looms disembodied against the cream ground, its clawed paw and long tail trailing down beside a round paper lantern on a black stand. Text panels in the upper right corner bear Japanese characters; the composition is rendered in muted cream, brown, gold, black, and pale blue-green tones. Title: Akashi Gidayu. Artist: Tsukioka Yoshitoshi. Year: 1890. Medium: Woodblock print.