Herakles 

Hideo Hagiwara made this striking black and white woodblock print titled "Herakles". In it we see the figure of Herakles battling a lion. Hagiwara came of age in a Japan grappling with rapid modernization and the rise of militarism. His work often reflects the tensions between tradition and modernity. Look at how the traditional myth is rendered through the modern medium of a woodblock print. The sharp contrasts and bold lines of the print create a visceral sense of struggle, as the muscular Herakles grapples with the wild animal. The intense drama between the two figures is echoed in the emotional turmoil of a nation undergoing immense change. Hagiwara noted that his artistic production stemmed from a deep desire to reconcile personal expression with broader societal concerns. The artwork serves as a metaphor for the internal conflicts within individuals and societies. The artist powerfully embodies the cultural and historical anxieties of his time.