Gongsun Sheng, the Dragon in the Clouds 1865

Tsukioka Yoshitoshi's 1865 woodblock print, "Gongsun Sheng, the Dragon in the Clouds," depicts a scene from the 14th-century Chinese novel *Water Margin.* In the print, the Daoist priest Gongsun Sheng, one of the 108 Stars of Destiny, is depicted with a dragon coiled around his leg, highlighting his association with the element of water and his ability to control magical creatures. Yoshitoshi’s dynamic composition, detailed brushstrokes, and use of vibrant color typical of the *ukiyo-e* style, captures the energy and spectacle of the scene, highlighting his mastery of this popular form of Japanese art.