Arashiyaya - Summer

Arashiyama, the mountainous district on the western edge of Kyoto, transforms in summer into a dense canopy of green along the Oi River. This woodblock print renders the area during its warmest months, when the bamboo groves and deciduous forests that blanket the hillsides reach their fullest foliage. Koichi likely positions the viewer along the riverbank or Togetsukyo Bridge, the landmark crossing point that anchors most compositions of Arashiyama. The summer setting distinguishes this print from the more commonly depicted autumn and cherry blossom views of the district. Without the brilliant reds of maple season or the pale pink of spring, the composition relies on layered gradations of green and the play of warm light across the water's surface.