Fireflies at Kinu River at Tennoji
- Medium:
- Woodblock print
- Source:
- Japanese Art Open Database
- Image courtesy of
- Japanese Art Open Database
Description
This print depicts a summer evening on the Kinu River near Tennoji, with the luminescent drifting of fireflies over the water surface. The subject bridges Kiyochika's signature interest in natural light phenomena with the kacho-e tradition of depicting seasonal creatures in their environment. Unlike the explosive or artificial light sources that dominate much of his work, fireflies allowed him to render scattered, soft punctuations of cold green-white light distributed across a dark, atmospheric ground. The riverbank setting at Tennoji — an area associated with Osaka — suggests the print may have been produced during a period when Kiyochika's subjects extended beyond Tokyo. Bokashi gradations in the sky and water unify the composition, while the fireflies themselves appear as small luminous accents against the deep indigo of the summer night.
More Prints by Kobayashi Kiyochika
More Landscapes Prints
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Autumn Maple Leaves at Takao, from the album Eight Views of Kyoto (Kyôto hakkei)
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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)"
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Tea Kettle, section of a sheet from the series "Mirror of Stone Rubbings of Views of the Provinces" (Kohon meihitsu ishizuri kagami)
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Featured in Collections
Curated cross-cuts that include this print.
Frequently Asked Questions
Fireflies at Kinu River at Tennoji was created by Kobayashi Kiyochika (小林清親).
Fireflies at Kinu River at Tennoji depicts landscapes.