Shoki, the demon-queller c. 1770

This woodblock print, *Shoki, the demon-queller*, by Utagawa Toyoharu, depicts a popular figure from Chinese mythology. Shoki is a powerful demon-quelling spirit who is often depicted with a ferocious expression and a sword. This print highlights Shoki's power and authority through his menacing stance, detailed costume, and exaggerated facial features. Toyoharu’s distinctive style of woodblock printing, with its strong lines and dramatic contrasts, brought a new level of dynamism to Japanese art during the Edo period. *Shoki, the demon-queller* is a prime example of Toyoharu’s artistic brilliance, and it remains a powerful and compelling piece of Japanese art.