Leaning Pagoda, Soochow, China

The print depicts the leaning pagoda of Soochow (Suzhou), most likely the Yunyan Ta or Tiger Hill Pagoda, a brick structure dating to the tenth century whose pronounced tilt has long made it a landmark of the Jiangnan region. Keith's compositional approach frames such monuments within their landscape, with bokashi gradations in the sky suggesting atmospheric haze and a diffused light falling across weathered masonry. The keyblock would carry the architectural detail of the pagoda's stacked eaves and arched openings, while successive color blocks build the tonal complexity of brick, foliage, and surrounding water. Produced through Keith's collaboration with the Watanabe Shozaburo workshop, the print reflects the shin-hanga commitment to traditional carving and printing techniques applied to subjects drawn from Western travel. Keith made repeated journeys through China during the 1920s, and her Soochow scenes form part of a wider body of work documenting the temples, gardens, and waterways of the Lower Yangtze.