Heian Shrine, 1961

Color woodblock print

26 x 33 5/8 inches (66 x 85.4 cm)

Philadelphia Museum of Art, Gift of Felix Juda, 1961  

1961-83-1

The strong horizontal and vertical bands that anchor
the composition of this print suggest the forms of the crossbeams and pillars of a building at Heian Shrine (Heian Jingū). The red background refers to the colors of the pillars at the shrine, while the black form in the foreground represents a decorative post cover. Reduced to these abstract architectural elements, this print captures our attention in its pure, quiet visual language, evoking a kind of meditative memory of the shrine for its viewers.

Jenny Lu