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Hello. I have seen this scene represented in paintings several times. What story or character does it refer to? Many thanks for your attention and best regards,
Gabriele

Unfortunately, I cannot help you with the person depicted. Judging by the headgear, the person depicted is a Heian period nobleman.

Signature,
晏斎寫　-　Painted by Ansai
Seal,
晏斎　　-　Ansai
Back,
時代物　‐ Antique piece

Sudō Ansai 須藤晏斎　1821-
Painter from Sano, Tochigi Prefecture, who was active from the end of the Edo period to the early Meiji period.　Was a disciple of Kanō Ansen 狩野晏川. He specialized in historic and warrior paintings that combined the styles of Hokusai and Kuniyoshi,

With regards,
I.Nagy

Many thanks Mr.Nagy for the valuable information. Searching for images with the same scene I saw that the episode represented refers to "Sugawara no Michizane of Akiko Lake". But I don't know what the meaning of the gesture is. Best regards,
Gabriele

After a brief search on the Japanese language web, I found a short review of this work by Nakayama Shūko （中山秋湖).
According to it, the hanging scroll of Sugawara no Michizane shows him facing east (towards the Imperial Palace in Kyōto) in despair after being exiled to Dazaifu, holding the clothes given to him by the Emperor and smelling the remaining scent of incence every day.

Another better-known legend about him is that his plum tree followed him to Kyūshū by flying all the way down from Kyōto.

With regards,
I.Nagy

Thanks again for the clarification.
Gabriele

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