The black monster attacking the wife of a carpe 

Tsukioka Yoshitoshi created this woodblock print of ‘The Black Monster Attacking the Wife of a Carpe’ in late 19th-century Japan. The image depicts a scene of chaos and fear: a monstrous figure looms over a woman, while a man recoils in terror. The print is a product of its time, reflecting the social anxieties and cultural fascinations of Meiji-era Japan. Japan was undergoing rapid modernization and westernization, but traditional beliefs in the supernatural persisted. Woodblock prints were a popular medium for mass communication. Yoshitoshi expertly uses them to tap into the collective imagination of the Japanese people, blending elements of folklore, horror, and social commentary. This work exemplifies the artistic and social history of the time. By studying the print alongside other sources, such as period newspapers and folklore studies, we can gain a deeper understanding of its historical and cultural significance. The meaning of art is always contingent on its context.