Anrakusai Mitsukuni
Osaka, circa 1870
The courtier Ono no Tofu stands holding his folded umbrella as he glances down towards the tiny frog which sits at the side of his geta. A calligrapher and statesman, he failed seven times to pass his exams but took heart from watching a frog fail seven times in its attempt to jump onto a willow branch, finally succeeding on its eighth endeavor.
Signed: Anrakusai Mitsukuni