Pagoda — 塔

One of Sugiura Kazutoshi's rare architectural subjects, this woodblock print of a pagoda (塔) represents a significant departure from his almost exclusive focus on botanical subjects. The pagoda — a multi-tiered tower of Buddhist origin that has become one of Japan's most recognizable architectural forms — is rendered here through Sugiura's characteristic layered technique, the geometric precision of the structure providing a strong contrast to the organic forms of his iris and flower series. The vertical emphasis of the pagoda form aligns with the vertical thrust of the iris leaves in many of his botanical works, suggesting a deeper formal connection between the two subject types.