Kegon Falls, One of the Three Waterfalls (Kegon no taki, santaki no sono ikkei)
Artist
Keisai Eisen 渓斉 英泉
(Japanese, 1790–1848)
Dateabout 1843–1846
Mediumwoodblock print; ink and color on paper
DimensionsVertical ōban: 34.3 x 21.9 cm (13 1/2 x 8 5/8 in.)
ClassificationsPrints
Credit LineJohn Chandler Bancroft Collection
Terms
Object number1901.838
Label TextAlthough this print is clearly influenced by Hokusai's series, “Waterfalls from Various Provinces,” (a few prints from this series are on view in this gallery), a character inscribed on the rock in the bottom left corner translates to “sketch,” suggesting that Eisen traveled to different locations and created designs from life. While Hokusai’s work conveys the power and force of the falls through vibrant colors and graphic rendering, Eisen conveys depth and movement through a complex layering of color. The presence of woodgrain, most visible in the top third of the falls, indicates this is a very early printing, as such a detail tended to become more faint every time the block was used.
On View
Not on view
