drawing, print, ink
portrait
drawing
ukiyo-e
figuration
ink
orientalism
Copyright: Toshio Saeki,Fair Use
Here is a woodblock print by Toshio Saeki, born in 1945, depicting a young woman's head connected to an elongated, serpentine neck. This unsettling image evokes the Rokurokubi of Japanese folklore—ghosts whose necks stretch to supernatural lengths. The Rokurokubi is not merely a monster, but a complex symbol. In some tales, they are cursed humans, their elongated necks a physical manifestation of inner turmoil or a hidden sin. In others, they are mischievous spirits playing tricks, embodying repressed desires. The single tear falling from her eye may suggest profound sadness or regret. The visual language echoes throughout art history. Consider Medusa, whose serpentine hair embodies primal fears and destructive power. Though different in form, both figures tap into a deep-seated unease with the boundaries of the human body, reminding us that these mythical figures are reflections of our own anxieties, fears, and cultural memory.
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