Details

Shimogawara Cho is a winding and, at times, very narrow street that travels through a large portion of Kyoto. This street runs through Kyoto’s world-famous Gion district, which plays host to old-world Japan through its many traditional shops, restaurants, temples, ryokan (Japanese-style bed and breakfasts), and teahouses where Geishas continue to entertain. Though Karhu doesn’t specify the address, the charming scene he provides could be anywhere along the path in Gion.

The design is executed in a long narrow format, echoing the long winding and intimate quality of the street. As are most of Karahu’s prints, the design is not populated, the artist allows the distinct’s traditional architecture to provide character and interest. Karhu’s choice of palette, electing to use rich dark reds and browns accentuate the narrowness of the street and give it a deeper sense of mystery, inviting the viewer to approach further into the composition.

Connoisseur's Note

This impression is in an exceedingly fine state of preservation. The print’s colors are as fresh and vivid as the day the work was executed. It’s quite rare to find oversized prints, such as this one, in excellent condition, as the far majority of these prints suffered from poor framing practices and light exposure.