Muraoka of the Konoe Clan Bound with Rope 1885

Tsukioka Yoshitoshi created this woodblock print of Muraoka, a woman of the Konoe Clan, sometime in the late 19th century. Yoshitoshi's work is known for its blend of traditional Japanese techniques with modern, often unsettling, subject matter. Here, Muraoka is depicted bound, her posture suggesting both vulnerability and defiance. The print is part of a series titled "Stories of People in the News," indicating its connection to contemporary events and perhaps societal scandals. The inclusion of text above the image, typical of woodblock prints of this period, would have provided further context for the depicted scene. Prints like this one served as a form of social commentary and played a crucial role in disseminating news and stories to a wide audience in Japan. Understanding the social and political climate of the Meiji era, along with archival research into the news stories of the time, can provide deeper insights into the print's meaning.