Deer at Nara
- Medium:
- Woodblock print
- Format:
- Oban
- Publisher:
- Watanabe Shozaburo
- Edition:
- Published by Watanabe Shozaburo
- Source:
- Japanese Art Open Database
Description
Sacred sika deer roam the grounds of Nara's Kasuga Shrine, approaching viewers with the uncanny familiarity that centuries of protection have bred into these animals. Kasamatsu depicts the deer as both wildlife subjects and living symbols of Nara's ancient religious character — they are classified as divine messengers of the god Takemikazuchi and have moved freely through the park since the eighth century. The print likely shows the animals against a backdrop of ancient lanterns or cryptomeria forest.
More Prints by Shiro Kasamatsu
More Animals Prints
Snake Charmers (Hebizukai)
Hebizukai
1932
Color woodblock print; oban
Hoshifuri Pine at Zen'yoji Temple in Edogawa (Edogawa-ku Zen'yoji Hoshifuri matsu), from the series "One Hundred Views of Great Tokyo in the Showa Era (Showa dai Tokyo fukei hyaku zue hanga)"
1935
Color woodblock print; oban
Drawing for Rabbit and Boy
1964
Acrylic paint and oil pastel with oiled charcoal and ink over an ink and graphite underdrawing on paper
Rabbit and Boy
1964
Color lithograph with relief block and hand coloring; edition 35/36
Featured in Collections
Curated cross-cuts that include this print.
Frequently Asked Questions
Deer at Nara was created by Shiro Kasamatsu (笠松紫浪).
Deer at Nara was published by Watanabe Shozaburo.
Deer at Nara depicts animals, set at Nara.