Print 1853 - 1873

This woodblock print by Ichiryūsai Yoshitoyo, a prominent Japanese artist of the Edo period, depicts an elephant being washed. The print, dating back to 1853-1873, captures the fascinating spectacle of an exotic animal in a domestic setting. The artist's attention to detail is evident in the realistic depiction of the elephant and the men tending to it. This artwork, now housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, showcases the captivating and often humorous perspective that characterized Japanese woodblock prints during this period.