Kannon Shrine at Kiyo Falls at Sakanoshita on the Tōkaidō, from the series Tour of the Waterfalls in Various Provinces (Shokoku taki meguri)
About 1833
Medium
Color woodblock print; ōban
Dimensions
Approx: 38.2 × 25.4 cm (15 × 10 in.)
Classification
woodblock print
Department
Arts of Asia
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
25189
Art Historical Context
Katsushika Hokusai's *Kannon Shrine at K Falls at Sakanosh on the Tōkaidō*, from his renowned series *Tour of thefalls in Various Provinces*Shokoku taki meguri captures the majestic power of nature in Edo-period around 1833. The Tōkaidō, a vital coastal highway connecting Edo (modern Tokyo) to Kyoto was a bustling route for travelers, merchants, and pilgrims. Here, Hokusai depicts the cascading Kiyo Falls near Sakanoshita, a small Kannon shrine—dedicated to the compassionate Buddhist bodhisattva—nestled dramatically at its base, blending spiritual reverence with the raw force of water. Printe...
About the Artist
Katsushika Hokusai · 1760–1849
Katsushika Hokusai (1760-1849) stands as one of history's most influential artists, a Japanese master who revolutionized the ukiyo-e woodblock print tradition and profoundly shaped Western art. Born in the Katsushika district of Edo (modern-day Tokyo) to an artisan family, Hokusai lived through nearly nine decades of extraordinary creative evolution, adopting over thirty different artistic names t...