Kisen Hōshi c. 1830s

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print, ink, woodblock-print

print

asian-art

landscape

ukiyo-e

ink

woodblock-print

romanticism

Dimensions 14 3/4 × 5 in. (37.4 × 12.7 cm) (image, sheet, chūtanzaku)

This woodblock print, “Kisen Hōshi,” by Utagawa Hiroshige, features a Buddhist monk amidst a vibrant landscape. The monk embodies a figure of spiritual contemplation, his presence drawing from a rich iconography of enlightenment and detachment from earthly concerns. Note the waterfall, a symbol often associated with purification and the relentless flow of time, echoing themes found in classical Chinese landscape paintings, representing the eternal cycles of nature. Consider how such natural elements resonate across cultures – the waterfall is not merely water cascading down a cliff, but a metaphor for life’s journey and spiritual renewal. The cherry blossoms, or sakura, connect to the concept of mono no aware, the pathos of things, or the awareness of impermanence. There's a cyclical progression here, with the monk, waterfall, and cherry blossoms resurfacing, evolving, and taking on new meanings across time. The image of Kisen Hōshi is not fixed but fluid, a testament to the enduring power of symbols to engage viewers on a deep, subconscious level.

Comments

minneapolisinstituteofart over 1 year ago

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For this autumnal scene Hiroshige was inspired by a poem by Kisen Ho_shi, a 9th century Buddhist priest who lived in the mountains near Uji, southeast of Kyoto. Hiroshige included the poem in the upper portion of the print: The melancholy tone of the poem is echoed by Hiroshige's portrait of the poet shown here in a windswept landscape with maple leaves swirling about him. His attention appears to be taken with the sorrowful cry of a deer, shown here in the distance.