Kasamatsu Shiro – Ueno Toshogu Shrine

Original woodblock print. The first edition of this design was published in 1953. The current print was printed in the Reiwa period (2019 – present).

With ‘Ueno Toshogu Shrine,’ Kasamatsu depicts a scene popular among woodblock print artists. Such popular choices were often made by the publisher, in this case, Unsodo, because of the high demand from customers for such scenes. Here, the famous site is depicted with blossoming cherry trees, further enhancing its attractiveness. The moment chosen, right after rainfall, is less common but is what makes the composition so effective. It binds all elements of the scene, due to the reflection of the colors of the cherry trees in the water left by the rain, which matches the coat of the woman in the centre too.

The Ueno Toshogu Shrine itself is not depicted, but instead the Five-Storied Pagoda close to it. The women depicted, and where Kasamatsu Shiro presumably saw this scene, are standing near the Ueno Toshogu Shrine; a number of its imposing 48 bronze lanterns are visible. A beautiful place to this very day, it is clear that Kasamatsu Shiro managed to capture its timeless beauty perfectly.

Image size (excluding margins): 36.5 * 24.0 cm (14.4 * 9.4 in).

The print is in excellent condition.

The pictures shown here are from the print itself.

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Kasamatsu Shiro (1898-1991) was a prolific and famous woodblock artist. When only aged thirteen he started as an apprentice. He could trace part of his artistic lineage back via Kaburagi and Yoshitoshi, connecting him to the great Ukiyo-e masters of the 19th century.

He created many prints in the Shin-Hanga style. Many of these depicted traditional themes like landscapes and temples, but within that Shiro displayed great diversity. His prints in the period of 1952-1960 in this style were very successful. This enabled him to experiment and he started working in the Sōsaku-Hanga (creative prints) movement as well, not only designing but also carving and printing himself.

See an overview of Kasamatsu Shiro's woodblock prints