View through the Sanmon Gate (Sanmon chobo)

"View through the Sanmon Gate (Sanmon chobo)" is a 2003 color woodblock print, edition 3 of 80, that frames a landscape through the monumental entrance gate of a Buddhist temple. The sanmon, literally "mountain gate," is the main entrance to a Zen temple compound, and its massive wooden pillars and heavy roof create a natural picture frame through which visitors catch their first glimpse of the temple grounds beyond. Koichi Maeda exploits this architectural framing device to organize his composition, using the dark verticals of the gate posts to contain and direct attention toward the view beyond. The contrast between the shadowed interior of the gate structure and the brighter landscape visible through it creates dramatic tonal range. The limited edition format ensures that each impression receives the careful attention this architecturally nuanced subject demands.