Details

In Temple of Kannon at Asakusa, Hiroaki captures Tokyo’s most iconic Buddhist site in the midst of a gentle snowfall—rendered with exquisite subtlety and a distinctly modern sense of visual framing. Rather than offering a panoramic view of the temple grounds, Hiroaki brings the viewer beneath the sweeping eaves of the structure, positioning us just under the ornate rooftop carvings and guardian lion-dogs (shishi), who seem to peer out over the scene with watchful eyes.

The composition unfolds vertically, drawing the gaze down along a bold red column toward the snow-laden branches and rooftops of the temple complex below. In the foreground, a pair of visitors, mostly obscured by wide parasols dusted with snow, lends a quiet sense of human presence to the solemnity of the scene. Snow falls steadily throughout, softening the outlines of the trees and rooftops and enhancing the contemplative mood.

The limited palette—dominated by stone grays, snowy whites, and vibrant reds—is punctuated with vivid accents of blue and yellow, making the print visually rich while maintaining compositional harmony.

Connoisseur's Note

This design is notable for its highly original composition, taking advantage of the narrow paper dimensions, Hiroaki offers an unusual and intimate perspective of the famous Senso-ji Temple in Asakusa. Rather than portraying the building head-on, Hiroaki frames the architecture through structural and ornamental detail—a masterful decision that evokes a sense of discovery, as if one were truly standing within the temple grounds, taking in the snowfall from beneath the shelter of the gate.

The guardian figures under the eaves add a protective presence, while the umbrellas below echo the dome of the roof, uniting human and architectural forms through repeated circular motifs. The snow, carefully printed with a fine white pigment, falls in varied sizes, enhancing the realism and rhythm of the composition.

Printed in the mid-1930s during Hiroaki’s mature period with Watanabe Shōzaburō, this work reflects the artist’s increasing interest in complex spatial construction and emotional tone. The precision of the woodblock carving is matched by the sensitivity of the printing—evident in the delicate snow filled atmosphere of the composition’s background.