Cherry Blossoms in Nara — 奈良の春

Dated to circa 1930–1950, this print depicts the cherry blossoms of Nara, the ancient capital south of Kyoto whose Yoshino region was the most celebrated sakura viewing site in Japan. The Japanese subtitle 奈良の春 (Nara no Haru, 'Nara in Spring') confirms its topographic character. Nara's blossom landscapes typically feature the deer that freely inhabit the park precincts of Nara-koen, along with the great curved rooflines of Todai-ji or Kasuga Grand Shrine visible through blossoming canopy. Kotozuka would have applied his characteristic graduated sky in pale rose or lilac to evoke the misty warmth of early April, with the blossoming trees rendered in layered pink overprints on absorbent washi to achieve petal softness impossible in Western printmaking media.