Sesshu Sumiyoshi Jinja Shrine

The title refers to Sumiyoshi Taisha in Osaka, located in the historical Settsu province (Sesshu) and one of the oldest Shinto shrines in Japan. Its most recognizable feature is the steeply arched Sorihashi drum bridge that crosses the shrine pond, together with the four honden buildings in the distinctive Sumiyoshi-zukuri style. Prints of this subject typically center the vermillion bridge against the green of the surrounding pines, using the keyblock to articulate the wooden lattice of the bridge and the curved tile rooflines, with bokashi in the water to suggest reflection. Tokuriki's approach to shrine architecture characteristically holds the buildings in clean frontal or three-quarter view rather than the deep recession of Western perspective, a compositional habit shared with the shin-hanga circle around Watanabe. The print extends his long engagement with Kansai religious sites beyond his customary Kyoto subjects into the wider Kinki region.