Kamakura Daibutsu

This oban woodblock print portrays the Great Buddha (Daibutsu) at Kamakura, the monumental bronze Amida Buddha that has sat in the open air since a tsunami destroyed its enclosing hall in 1498. The statue, over thirteen meters tall, is one of Japan's most recognizable landmarks and has been depicted by artists and photographers countless times. Keith's rendering of the Daibutsu brings her particular sensitivity to scale and human presence, likely including figures near the base of the statue that emphasize its colossal proportions. The weathered green patina of the bronze surface is well suited to the woodblock medium's capacity for nuanced color. Keith's perspective as a Western artist encountering this Buddhist icon adds a layer of cross-cultural encounter to an image already rich in spiritual and historical resonance.