Shumitsu Kanja Yoshitaka Reflecting as a Rat in a Mirror 1867

Tsukioka Yoshitoshi created this woodblock print depicting Shumitsu Kanja Yoshitaka contemplating his reflection as a rat in a mirror. The symbolism here is rich. The rat, often associated with cunning and resourcefulness, here takes on a darker connotation, hinting at inner turmoil and a confrontation with one's true self. Mirrors, of course, have always been powerful symbols of self-awareness and hidden truths. We see similar motifs in other artworks across cultures. The use of animal reflections as symbols of hidden identities has its precedent in ancient Egyptian beliefs about animal-headed gods, as well as the darker associations with animal familiars of witches during the medieval times. In fact, the rat in the mirror in this artwork could be seen as a *doppelganger*, an alternate version of Yoshitaka himself, perhaps. As viewers, we are drawn into the psychological drama of self-recognition, and the cyclical return and evolution of symbols across time.