For
the traditional Japanese the ritual of the bath, the ofuro, is an essential element
of the day. This is a ritual of purification, relaxation and rejuvenation.
This 19th Century ivory netsuke depicts an older man in a traditional ofuro.
There is a striking realism to the figure: the man’s back is sinewy, depicting
a once muscled body that has begun to shrink with age. This is contrasted with
his arms that are still muscled. The expression on the man’s face communicates
a deep relaxation as he holds a cloth to his head to wipe off the sweat that arises
from the steaming water.
