- Storehouse-Style Jōge Church -

The vibrant small-format woodblock print Kurazukuri no Jōge Kyōkai (Storehouse-Style Jōge Church) by Osamu Ueda portrays Jōge Church from a dramatic low angle, setting its tower and cross against a vivid blue sky filled with bright drifting clouds. Strong contrasts of light and shadow emphasize the building’s distinctive architecture while giving the scene both strength and serenity. The clear colors and brilliant sky beautifully evoke the brightness of a summer day.

This unusual building was originally constructed during the Meiji era as a kanegura—a secure storehouse for gold, silver, and other valuables—belonging to the wealthy Sumikura family. It was converted into a Christian church in 1951. What now appears to be a church steeple was originally a lookout tower for watchmen guarding the valuables stored inside. A cross was later added when the building became a church. Today, it is a well-known local landmark in Jōge, Hiroshima Prefecture.

Osamu Ueda was born in Hiroshima Prefecture in 1947. He has an unusual background for an artist, having graduated from the Faculty of Dentistry at Hiroshima University. He and his father, Isao Ueda (b. 1924), held a joint exhibition at the Kure Municipal Museum of Art. Both father and son are known for their warm and appealing artistic styles.

Technique: Woodblock
Print paper size: 6 7/8 × 8 3/8 inches (17.5 × 22 cm)
Image size: 6 × 7 5/8 inches (15.2 × 19.5 cm)
Presentation paper size: 10 1/8 × 12 1/4 inches (25.8 × 31.2 cm)
Sheet number: N/A (The edition was limited to only seven impressions; however, this print is not numbered on the sheet.)
Date: 1995
Signed: N/A
Condition: Very good condition. The print remains attached to its original presentation paper, which includes the title and date.

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