Nurarihyon

The image focuses tightly on the upper face and nose of the yōkai known as Nurarihyon, rendered in a traditional Japanese ink and wash style on aged paper. His head is disproportionately tall and bulbous, curving upward beyond the frame, with thin, arched eyebrows and eyes that look upward with a sly, knowing expression. The nose is prominent and fleshy, and the lower portion of the visible face shows a faint, stubbled chin and a slight, serpentine smile. The lines are fluid and minimalist, emphasizing the supernatural, uncanny nature of the figure.

Nurarihyon is the commander of the yōkai and a central figure in Japanese folklore, known for infiltrating homes uninvited to drink tea. This depiction likely originates from an eighteenth-century 'Bakemono no e' (picture scroll of monsters) intended to categorize and visualize the supernatural entities of the Edo period.