Aoki Shigeru,born in Fukuoka Prefecture in 1882, is an artist who represents the romanticismof modern Japan. He painted numerous works with themes such as Japanesemythology and ancient Indian tales, enchanting the people of the time with his richexpressiveness and creativity. After wanderingKyushu due to poverty and familial conflict for approximately three years atthe end of his life, Aoki passed away at the young age of 28 from lung disease.“Dog” is a work made during his time wandering around Kyushu. In “Dog,” thefigure of one dog, posing like an actor, is depicted in a backlit scene at dusk,a dramatic setting quite typical of Aoki. One can perceive the high level ofAoki’s descriptive ability from the drawing of such aspects as the stretchedshoulder muscles and the nimble-looking hind legs.