Chikibu Island in Moonlight
- Medium:
- Woodblock print
- Source:
- wbp
Description
This woodblock print presents Chikubu Island, a sacred site in Lake Biwa, under the glow of moonlight. The island, home to the ancient Hogon-ji temple, rises from the lake's dark surface as a solitary silhouette against the luminous night sky. Nishiyama renders the interplay of reflected moonlight on water with careful gradation, using the bokashi technique to transition from the bright disc of the moon through progressively deeper tones. The choice of a nocturnal setting transforms a well-known Shiga Prefecture landmark into something more private and contemplative, stripping away the daytime bustle of pilgrims and tourists to reveal the island as a still presence surrounded by expansive water. The composition balances the small mass of the island against the vast emptiness of lake and sky.
More Prints by Nishiyama Hideo
More Landscapes Prints
Lake Kugushi in Wakasa Province (Wakasa Kugushiko), from the series Souvenirs of Travel I (Tabi miyage dai isshu)"
Wakasa Kugushiko
1920
Color woodblock print; oban
Autumn Maple Leaves at Takao, from the album Eight Views of Kyoto (Kyôto hakkei)
Woodblock print
The Beach at Kaiganji in Sanuki Province (Sanuki Kaiganji no hama), from the series "Collection of Views of Japan II, Kansai Edition (Nihon fukei shu II Kansai hen)"
1934
Color woodblock print; oban
Tea Kettle, section of a sheet from the series "Mirror of Stone Rubbings of Views of the Provinces" (Kohon meihitsu ishizuri kagami)
n.d.
Woodblock print; ishizuri-e, section of harimaze sheet
Featured in Collections
Curated cross-cuts that include this print.
Frequently Asked Questions
Chikibu Island in Moonlight was created by Nishiyama Hideo (西山英雄).
Chikibu Island in Moonlight depicts landscapes, moonlight, and night scenes.