Nishigori Takekiyo Painting 1887

Tsukioka Yoshitoshi’s woodblock print depicts Nishigori Takekiyo, a Meiji era journalist, in what appears to be a private, domestic setting. The Meiji Restoration was a period of rapid modernization and Westernization in Japan, and this print offers a lens through which to examine these cultural shifts. The presence of a woman, possibly a wife or geisha, and a child, introduces elements of gender and family dynamics into the scene. The woman, adorned in traditional garb, attends to the man, reinforcing conventional gender roles even as Japan was undergoing modernization. The child seems to be playing with the woman's discarded kimono, which indicates a scene of shared, intimate domesticity. Yoshitoshi, known for his dynamic and often unsettling compositions, presents a relatively calm and intimate scene. However, the journalist, Takekiyo, looks directly out at the viewer, which emphasizes the emotional and performative nature of his domesticity. Ultimately, the print reflects the complex interplay between tradition and modernity, public and private, as Japan navigated its place on the world stage.