Itsukushima — 厳島

A second treatment of the Itsukushima shrine complex on Miyajima island, this woodblock print returns to the celebrated vermilion torii rising from the tidal waters of Hiroshima Bay. Where the companion composition may emphasize architectural details of the shrine corridors, this version likely privileges a wider panoramic view or a different tidal condition — the shrine's character changes markedly between high and low water. Kiyochika's Western-influenced handling of reflected light on water would give the scene depth unusual in earlier meisho-e treatments of the site. Printed on washi using multiple carved blocks, the gradations of sky and sea demonstrate the expressive potential of bokashi in rendering coastal atmosphere far from the gaslit streets of Tokyo that constitute his best-known subject matter.