Old State House of Boston

This woodblock print portrays the Old State House, Boston's oldest surviving public building, constructed in 1713 and now dwarfed by surrounding modern towers. The building witnessed key events of the American Revolution, including the reading of the Declaration of Independence from its balcony in 1776. Matsubara finds visual interest in the contrast between the small Georgian structure and the tall glass and steel buildings that have grown up around it. Her mokuhanga technique renders this architectural dialogue with the bold contrasts and simplified forms that allow the viewer to focus on the spatial relationship between colonial-era and modern construction. The Old State House, like the Old North Church, belongs to Matsubara's project of interpreting Boston's historic architecture through Japanese woodblock printing.