Itsukushima Shrine
1897
Kobayashi Kiyochika captures the magical illusion of Japan's famous Itsukushima Shrine, where the massive wooden torii gate seems to float on the sea during high tide. Created in 1897 as part of a series celebrating famous Japanese scenic spots, this woodblock print blends traditional ukiyo-e techniques with a slightly more modern, Western-influenced perspective. You can see tiny boats navigating the waters around the giant gate, while the intricate shrine complex stretches out in the background, built on stilts over the water. Kiyochika was one of the last great masters of ukiyo-e, working just as photography was beginning to change how people saw the world.
- Technique
- woodblock print