Description

Catalog No. 143. Man With a Saber, Ainu, Hokkaido. Richard Miles says fewer than 60 impressions were ever done of this design. The Ainu are a native Caucasian people of the northern islands. This is one of the first sympathetic depictions. The bear is an important totem for these people, and note the repeated image on both the blade handle and his headband. I find the faces on both bear and young man to be remarkably gentle.