Fumio Kitaoka’s 1991 woodblock depicts Matsuyama Castle’s Tonashi Gate with crisply carved stone and timber, the open entrance framing vivid greenery beyond. One of Japan’s few remaining original castles, Matsuyama Castle lies atop Mount Katsuyama and overlooks the town below & out toward the Seto Inland sea. A fabulous place to also view Cherry Blossom in the March/April months. 🏯
- Year & Edition: 1991 · Ed. of 150 (59/150) (signed, titled & dated in pencil).
- Medium: Woodblock.
- Dimensions: Sheet W: 37.00 cm × H: 47.50 cm.
- Condition: Excellent; vibrant, unblemished colour; paper clean & intact.
- Notes: Kitaoka focuses on the Tonashi Gate’s structural details - the solid stone foundation, weathered wooden beams and sculpted roof tiles that guard the castle’s inner grounds. A tall pine trunk stands in the foreground, its textured bark mirroring the gate’s patina. Through the open portal, a burst of green and gold suggests the seasonal gardens or courtyard just beyond. Layered carving and subtle shifts in hue underscore the gate’s function as both barrier and threshold, inviting the viewer to imagine the hidden spaces it protects.
