Artwork
The Nezu Gongen Shrine
The Nezu Gongen Shrine is a drawing by the Japonisme artist Katsushika Hokusai. It dates from 1786 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
The lines are crisp and precise, showing Hokusai’s early style before he became famous.
This is a detailed drawing of a shrine building with curved roofs and wooden beams. The lines are crisp and precise, showing Hokusai’s early style before he became famous.
Hokusai made this in 1785-1787 for a woodblock print. It’s one of his early works signed “Shunro,” before he changed his name. The drawing guided wood carvers who cut the image into blocks.
Try sketching like this at the Victoria and Albert Museum.
Overview
The Nezu Gongen Shrine is an early 18th-century Japanese drawing, specifically a hanshita-e, created between 1785 and 1787. It served as the final design for a woodblock print, directing the artisan who would carve the block.
Subject & Meaning
The drawing depicts a detailed shrine building characterized by curved roofs and prominent wooden beams, capturing the architectural nuances of a traditional Japanese shrine.
Technique & Style
Executed with crisp, precise lines, the work exemplifies Hokusai's early artistic style during his 'Shunro' period, preceding his later, more renowned techniques.
History & Provenance
Created under the pseudonym 'Shunro' (used by Hokusai from 1779 to 1794), this piece is part of a significant group of early drawings by the artist, later known for his contributions to ukiyo-e.
Context
As a hanshita-e, its primary function was practical—to guide woodblock carvers. However, it also showcases Hokusai's burgeoning skill in capturing traditional Japanese subjects.
Legacy
While not as widely recognized as Hokusai's later works, The Nezu Gongen Shrine contributes to the understanding of the artist's developmental period and the technical process of 18th-century Japanese woodblock print production.
Artist & collection
Artist
Katsushika Hokusai spent his life in Edo, now Tokyo, where he drew and carved prints for a living.
