Lord Sadanobu with a Demon behind a Screen 1865

Tsukioka Yoshitoshi created this woodblock print, "Lord Sadanobu with a Demon behind a Screen" during a time of significant social and political change in Japan. The Meiji Restoration was underway, and with it came tensions between tradition and modernity. Yoshitoshi masterfully uses the supernatural to explore these tensions. Here we see Lord Sadanobu, a figure of authority, seemingly unaware of the looming demon lurking behind the screen. This juxtaposition speaks to the unease and hidden anxieties present within a society undergoing rapid transformation. The demon, a symbol of chaos and disruption, challenges the perceived stability of the ruling class. It reflects the fears of those who felt that traditional values were being eroded by Western influence and the breakdown of the old order. The artist invites us to consider the dualities within ourselves and society: order versus chaos, seen versus unseen, known versus unknown. How do we reconcile these opposing forces, and what lurks in the shadows of our own perceptions?