Twenty-four Japanese examples of filial piety for the Honchôren c. 1821

This woodblock print by Yashima Gakutei, titled "Twenty-four Japanese examples of filial piety for the Honchôren", is one of a series that depicts stories of filial piety, a core Confucian value in Japanese culture. Created in 1821, it is now part of the Rijksmuseum collection. The single-sheet print features a man, possibly a scholar, in a landscape setting. He is dressed in traditional Japanese clothing, suggesting the story is set in a historical period. The print’s small size (203 mm x 181 mm) and detailed composition highlight the delicate skill of ukiyo-e printing. The print uses a palette of muted colours, characteristic of Gakutei’s later works. The intricate depiction of natural details, such as the craggy rocks and the lush foliage, underscores the artist's meticulous attention to detail.