Enoshima

Enoshima, a small island connected to the Shonan coast of Kanagawa Prefecture by a sandbar, was a popular destination for Edo-period travelers and remained significant in the Taisho era as a scenic resort accessible by rail. The island is known for its shrines dedicated to Benzaiten, its cave system, and the views it affords of Sagami Bay and Mount Fuji on clear days. Hasui's composition likely depicts either the approach to the island across the shallow tidal flat, the torii gate at the island's base, or a view from higher on the island toward the open sea and distant Izu Peninsula. The print belongs to a tradition of Enoshima imagery extending back through Hiroshige and Hokusai. Characteristic of Hasui's coastal prints, the sea would be rendered in layered flat printing using blue-green and grey tones, with bokashi gradation in the sky suggesting time of day.