The Hagi Jewel River, from an untitled series of Six Jewel Rivers
c. 1770/71
Medium
Color woodblock print; chuban
Dimensions
26.1 × 19.7 cm (10 1/4 × 7 3/4 in.)
Classification
woodblock print
Department
Arts of Asia
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
21108
Art Historical Context
Shiba Kōkan's *The Hagi Jewel River created around 1770–71, invites visitors into the poetic beauty of Japan's natural landscapes. Part of an untitled series depicting the Six Jewel Rivers—famed scenic waterways celebrated in classical literature—this chuban-sized color woodblock print (26.1 × 19.7 cm) captures the serene of the Hagi River, evoking timeless tranquility amid misty hills and gentle waters. During Japan's Edo period, woodblock printing reached its zenith as an accessible art form, allowing intricate designs to be mass-produced through meticulously carved blocks for each color la...