Once Upon a Time (A Book of Ghost Stories) 1790

"Once Upon a Time (A Book of Ghost Stories)" is a woodblock print by Katsukawa Shun’ei, a prominent Japanese artist of the Edo period, created in 1790. The print depicts a terrifying scene of a monstrous creature, possibly a demon or yokai, devouring a human victim in a mountainous landscape. The stark contrast between the creature's dark, shadowy form and the delicate lines of the mountainside creates a sense of dramatic tension. This print, housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, provides a glimpse into the rich and often unsettling world of Japanese folklore.