Samurai beside a porch

Unknown · 1790

Colour woodblock print, Samurai beside a porch designed by an unknown artist and created by the printmaker Toen, printed in Japan, 1790. The samurai calls out to ask if anyone is home, with a play upon words switching the homophones 'isn't' and 'dog' ('inu'). Toen's name is associated with several picture calendar prints (egoyomi) in the Chester Beatty collection. Although this print lacks the calendar information expected of an egoyomi print, the pun indicates that it was made for a Dog Year.