House in Yase

Yase is a valley village to the northeast of Kyoto, once remote but historically significant as a retreat associated with imperial consorts. Tanaka's 1981 etching captures a dwelling in this enclave with his customary attention to the specific character of local architecture — the way roof pitch, wall material, and garden plantings differ subtly between Kyoto's many distinct neighborhoods. The house in Yase speaks to a quieter, more rural edge of the city's cultural geography.