Ghost Story c. late 19th century

"Ghost Story," a late 19th-century artwork from the Utagawa School, depicts a haunting scene. A samurai, cloaked in shadows, sits on a tatami mat, seemingly oblivious to the ghastly apparition peering from a nearby framed portrait. The unsettling presence of the spectral figure and the eerie atmosphere heighten the sense of unease. The use of muted colors and delicate lines creates a chilling and ethereal effect, typical of the dramatic and symbolic narratives favored by the Utagawa School. This woodblock print, currently housed at the Minneapolis Institute of Art, encapsulates the captivating blend of the supernatural and everyday life that made Japanese ghost stories so compelling.