Tokyo West-Baiu (Rainy season) (One Hundred Views of Tokyo, Message to the 21st Century 東京百景 21世紀へのメッセジ)
- Date:
- 1989-99
- Medium:
- Color woodblock print
- Edition:
- Self-printed
- Source:
- Art Institute of Chicago
Description
From the series One Hundred Views of Tokyo, Message to the 21st Century, this color woodblock print dated 1989-99 depicts the western districts of Tokyo during baiu, the rainy season that arrives each June. The series title frames the print as a time capsule: a message sent from the late twentieth century to the future, recording how the capital looked and felt before the next century's changes arrived. Chizuko Yoshida's choice of the rainy season for a western Tokyo view emphasizes the atmospheric qualities that rain imposes on the urban landscape, softening hard edges, creating reflections on wet surfaces, and filtering light through overcast skies. The decade-long creation period of the series allowed Chizuko to work slowly and deliberately on each view.
More Prints by Chizuko Yoshida
More Landscapes Prints
Lake Kugushi in Wakasa Province (Wakasa Kugushiko), from the series Souvenirs of Travel I (Tabi miyage dai isshu)"
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1920
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Autumn Maple Leaves at Takao, from the album Eight Views of Kyoto (Kyôto hakkei)
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The Beach at Kaiganji in Sanuki Province (Sanuki Kaiganji no hama), from the series "Collection of Views of Japan II, Kansai Edition (Nihon fukei shu II Kansai hen)"
1934
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Tea Kettle, section of a sheet from the series "Mirror of Stone Rubbings of Views of the Provinces" (Kohon meihitsu ishizuri kagami)
n.d.
Woodblock print; ishizuri-e, section of harimaze sheet
Featured in Collections
Curated cross-cuts that include this print.
Frequently Asked Questions
Tokyo West-Baiu (Rainy season) (One Hundred Views of Tokyo, Message to the 21st Century 東京百景 21世紀へのメッセジ) was created by Chizuko Yoshida (吉田千鶴子) in 1989-99.
Tokyo West-Baiu (Rainy season) (One Hundred Views of Tokyo, Message to the 21st Century 東京百景 21世紀へのメッセジ) depicts landscapes, seascapes, and rain, set at Tokyo.