Helm en wapenstok 1819

This print, *Helm en wapenstok*, was created by Yashima Gakutei in Japan during the first half of the 19th century, using woodblock printing. The image depicts the regalia of a samurai warrior. During the Edo period, the samurai class held a position of power and privilege in Japanese society. Gakutei's print speaks to this hierarchy, but it does so through the lens of *ukiyo-e*, or "pictures of the floating world." *Ukiyo-e* prints often depicted scenes of everyday life, including the lives of courtesans, actors, and warriors. The aesthetic of these prints reflect the shifting social and cultural landscape of the time. In this print, Gakutei isolates the symbols of samurai power: the helmet and baton. The helmet's fierce ornamentation, with its prominent horns, becomes a mask of identity. The print invites reflection on the narratives of power, duty, and honor. The print encapsulates a moment in time when the floating world and the warrior class intersected.