Benten Island at Tomonotsu, Bingo Province (Bingo Tomonotsu no Bentenjima)
by Kawase Hasui
- Medium:
- Woodblock print
- Source:
- Museum of Fine Arts Boston
- Image courtesy of
- Museum of Fine Arts Boston
Description
Tomonotsu, a preserved port town in what was historically Bingo Province (present-day Hiroshima Prefecture), was an important stop on the Seto Inland Sea trade routes. This print shows the small island shrine of Bentenjima, dedicated to Benzaiten, the goddess of water and the arts, visible from the town's waterfront. Hasui likely depicted the island from a low vantage point across a stretch of calm inlet water, with traditional tile-roofed merchant buildings visible along the far shore. The composition may employ atmospheric bokashi gradations in the sky to suggest morning mist or fading twilight. This subject belongs to Hasui's extensive series of regional landscape prints made during sketching tours throughout Japan.
More Prints by Kawase Hasui
More Landscapes Prints
Lake Kugushi in Wakasa Province (Wakasa Kugushiko), from the series Souvenirs of Travel I (Tabi miyage dai isshu)"
Wakasa Kugushiko
1920
Color woodblock print; oban
Autumn Maple Leaves at Takao, from the album Eight Views of Kyoto (Kyôto hakkei)
Woodblock print
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
Color woodblock print; oban
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
Benten Island at Tomonotsu, Bingo Province (Bingo Tomonotsu no Bentenjima) was created by Kawase Hasui (川瀬巴水).
Benten Island at Tomonotsu, Bingo Province (Bingo Tomonotsu no Bentenjima) depicts landscapes.