Netsuke of Figure of a Man Scratching His Back

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

The Netsuke of Figure of a Man Scratching His Back depicts a small figurine of a man made from a light-brown material, likely ivory. The man is bald and has his right knee bent, resting on the ground, while his left leg is bent with the foot flat on the ground. He wears a cloth wrapped around his waist. His left arm is bent at the elbow, with the hand scratching the back of his head. His right arm is bent, with the hand near his right knee. The figurine has a smooth, glossy finish. The background is gray with a shadow cast by the figurine.