Boston Public Library, Shôwa period, dated 1969

Dated 1969 in the Showa period, this woodblock print offers another interpretation of the Boston Public Library, distinct from Matsubara's undated version of the same subject. The 1969 date places it during a particularly productive phase when Matsubara was establishing herself in the American art world while maintaining her Japanese printmaking practice. The two versions of the same architectural subject invite comparison: the specific date suggests this may be the later, more refined treatment, benefiting from extended observation of the building. The library's grand facade, with its repetitive arched bays, lends itself to the serial quality of Matsubara's carving, where the gouge creates rhythmic patterns across the block. The Copley Square setting provides an urban context of surrounding buildings and open plaza that Matsubara could include or exclude at will.