The Striker

When Eskimos go whaling, there is the striker, a man honored for his keen eye, strength of arm and skill in judging just when and where he'll throw the harpoon, assuring a kill and meat for the village.
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The captain slowly, carefully, maneuvers the boat close to the whale.

The striker, when everything is right, leans forward, overbalancing himself until his center of gravity is far beyond the bow of the boat. He throws the harpoon with all the force he can muster, -the reaction bringing him back in to balance within the boat, tossing his hood forward, obscuring his vision but it doesn't matter.

He knows the strike was good, he trusts his captain and crew and he knows that soon the whole village will participate in hauling the whale ashore.
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One of my many regrets is I once had a chance to go out with a whaling crew... but I allowed a sense of responsibility and other commitments to dissuade me.

Sumi-e (ink brushed on 'rice' paper) 14" by 17", unmounted.