Tengui Rock, Autumn in Shiobara (Shiobara no aki (Tenguiwa))

Tengui Rock in Autumn at Shiobara, published in 1950, depicts the distinctive Tenguiwa (tengu-face rock) formation in the Shiobara hot spring gorge in Tochigi Prefecture — one of the naturally sculpted basalt formations along the Hoki River gorge that give Shiobara its dramatic scenery. The autumn setting brings the maples and birches of the gorge walls into full color, the russet and gold foliage framing the dark, mossy rock face that juts from the cliff. Shiobara was one of Hasui's earliest subjects (he depicted Shiogama here in 1918) and he returned to it decades later to explore its autumn character.