Ryokusai Jugyoku
Edo. 19th century
An amusing netsuke of a carver seated contemplating his latest creation of a hyotokko mask, its face contorted into a sideways grimace and winking with one eye, the other eye bulging and implying blindness. The artisan rests his hand and blade on his right knee and screws his face up to copy the mask’s expression as he assesses his work.
