Nanzenji Temple in Autumn — Shigure no ato Kyoto Nanzenji

A third state or edition of Hasui's Nanzenji autumn composition, this print belongs to the group of Kyoto temple subjects that proved among the most commercially successful in the Watanabe catalog. The persistence of multiple impressions and editions indicates that the design resonated with both Japanese and foreign buyers attracted to the imagery of ancient temples in atmospheric seasonal conditions. Nanzenji in shigure—after passing autumn rain—presented Hasui with the technical challenge he consistently sought: rendering reflective wet surfaces, subdued color harmonies, and the particular grey luminosity of overcast Japanese skies in autumn. The composition almost certainly features the grand stone-paved approach to the sanmon, a natural organizing device that leads the eye from foreground to architectural mass. Variations between editions may appear in the depth of the bokashi in the sky, the intensity of maple color, or the presence and color of figures on the path.