Yoshikuni: Kinkakuji Temple in Kyoto (Sold)

Artist: Nomura Yoshikuni
Title: Kinkakuji Temple in Kyoto
Series: Famous Views of Osaka and Kyoto (Keihan meisho zue)
Date: 1885 (Meiji 18)

“Picture of the Golden Pavilion in West Kyoto” (Kyoto rakusei Kinkakuji no zu). This rare series is set apart by its unique perspectives and grab-bag of western stylizations, giving all of its images an almost eerie, unsettling feeling. The figures here are elongated, and the reflections on the pond are quite slantedly (and incorrectly) rendered. There was also a layer of imititation “lacquer” painted over the design, applied to give the work a “western” look of an oil painting, although it has not had too much of a browning effect, as can happen. Perhaps the artist is conveying his own emotions of how “out-of-whack” Meiji society had become when compared to earlier periods. Extremely rare.

Condition: Excellent impression and color, very good condition. Some creasing and minor ink smudges in margins.
Dimensions: ôban
Publisher: Ikeda Fusajiro, Kyoto
Seal: Noda Norishichi (Tenshichi)
Signature: Kyo (Kyoto) Yoshikuni hitsu

SKU: YOK013