Tsuchiya Koitsu – Rainy Miyajima

Original woodblock print. The first edition of this design was published in 1941. The current print was printed after 1996.

Miyajima, also known as Itsukushima, is a small island located in the Seto Inland Sea of Japan (that is in fact not truly an inland sea, but connected to the ocean). Part of the Itsukushima Shrine on the island is a famous Torii gate. It is build on land but with rising tide its lower part gets submerged in the water. This is the state in which it is shown here by Tsuchiya Koitsu, making it seem as if the Torii is floating on top of the water or suddenly rising from it. In front of it are lanterns, and one of the many deer that roam the island and are no longer fearful of humans. It is a popular place for Japanese woodblock prints to depict.

Image size (excluding margins): 39.0 * 26.0 cm (15.4 * 10.2 in).

The print is in excellent condition.

The pictures shown here are from the print itself.

References: R. Walker and Toshikazu Doi, The Catalogue Raissonee of Tsuchiya Koitsu, 2008, TK-DH-66, p. 112.

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Tsuchiya Koitsu (1870-1949) was a Japanese woodblock print artist. He is known for his high-quality Shin hanga prints, excelling in the depiction of light and shadow and the expression of mood.

More information about Tsuchiya Koitsu and an overview of his woodblock prints can be found here.

See an overview of Tsuchiya Koitsu's woodblock prints