A scene of Journey to the West 1864

Tsukioka Yoshitoshi created this vivid woodblock print depicting a scene from *Journey to the West*. Note how clouds carry the actors of this play. Consider the imposing figure of the demon, framed by a halo, reminiscent of divine auras in religious art. This symbol, prevalent across cultures, signifies enlightenment or power. In a twist, Yoshitoshi subverts this sacred imagery, placing it behind a demonic figure, thereby blending the sacred and profane. We see echoes of such inversions throughout history. Think of the medieval gargoyles perched on cathedrals, grotesque yet guarding holy places. Such juxtapositions reveal a deep-seated human fascination with the duality of good and evil, a theme that engages our collective psyche across time. The emotional tension created by this fusion of opposites evokes a sense of awe and unease. This dance between light and darkness, divine and monstrous, resurfaces repeatedly, each time filtered through the cultural lens of the artist.