Masao Ido - 金刀比羅参道 (Entrance to Kotohira-gu Shrine)

Masao Ido captures a wonderful scene of Kotohira-gu’s (金刀比羅宮) steep stone steps. Shikoku’s most famous shrine, & commonly referred to as “Konpira-san” (“こんぴらさん”); a total of 1368 steps lead up the forested slopes of Mt. Zōzu (象頭山), & through to the main & inner shrines. Worship to the deities enshrined at Kotohira-gu is said to bring good fortune to agriculture, medicine, arts, sailors and seafaring. Visit Kotohira-Gu! - Official Website: https://www.konpira.or.jp/ ⛩️🌿✨ 

• Year & Edition: 1979. Ed. 72/120 (signed, titled & editioned in pencil).
• Medium: Woodblock.
• Dimensions: Paper H: 44.00 cm × W: 29.75 cm. Image H: 38.50 cm × W: 25.75 cm.
  
• Condition: Beautiful given an earlier piece. Image unblemished, vibrant colour.
• Notes: Kotohira-gū (金刀比羅宮), located in Kagawa Prefecture, is one of Japan’s most important Shinto shrines. The composition draws the eye upward along the steep path, with cool shadowed tones contrasted by areas of filtered light through the trees. Subtle goma-zuri textures are dappled across the print, a characteristic feature of Ido’s printing.

About the Artist

Masao Ido (1945-2016) was a printmaker known for his Kyoto scenes, brimming with rich greenery, seasonal shades of signature “Ido Green”, and refined goma-zuri textures. Trained in traditional textile dyeing, he turned to woodblock printmaking in the early 1970s, capturing historic townscapes and seasonal views - from Kyoto to Shirakawa-go and the Nakasendō way. Printed with up to 23 colour blocks on handmade Echizen washi, his works are held in major collections including the MFA Boston, U.S. Library of Congress, and the Tokyo & Kyoto National Museums. [ ← View All Works by Masao Ido]