Souvenirs of Travel, Second Series: Winter in Arashi Gorge (Tabi miyage dainishu: Fuyu no Arashikyo)

Arashi Gorge (Arashiyama) lies at the western edge of Kyoto along the Oi River, and in winter its forested slopes are stripped of autumn foliage, revealing the grey-brown structure of bare deciduous trees above the dark water. Hasui's winter composition would emphasize the skeletal forms of trees against a pale winter sky, with the river surface carrying reflected light between steep banks. The area's famous Togetsu-kyo bridge may appear as a horizontal element dividing the composition or receding into mist. Arashiyama in winter differs fundamentally from the site's spring cherry or autumn maple views, and Hasui's choice of the cold season aligns with his sustained interest in snow, ice, and the visual severity of winter landscapes. The bokashi technique would be deployed in the sky and water to suggest the flat diffuse light of overcast winter conditions on the Kyoto basin.