Tortoise c. 18th century

This 18th-century painting by the renowned Japanese artist Ito Jakuchu depicts a tortoise with its shell facing the viewer and its tail in the air. The intricate details of the tortoise's shell are rendered with delicate brushstrokes. The artist's masterful use of ink creates a sense of movement and dynamism, highlighting the animal's graceful form. The overall effect is one of understated beauty, capturing the essence of the tortoise's slow and deliberate nature.