- Yamadera Basho Iseki (Bashō’s Historic Site at Yamadera) -

The contemplative woodblock print "Yamadera Bashō Iseki" (Bashō's Historic Site at Yamadera) by Tomikichiro Tokuriki captures a stone stairway climbing the mountainside at Yamadera, the famed mountain temple in Yamagata closely associated with the celebrated haiku poet Matsuo Bashō. The worn, uneven steps wind quietly upward between weathered rock outcrops, their surfaces touched with delicate blue-green tones that suggest moss and the passage of countless years. Towering cedar trees, stone lanterns, and ancient memorial stones create an atmosphere of profound tranquility. No human figures appear; only the stairway invites the viewer onward, disappearing toward the unseen temple precincts above.

The title refers to Yamadera as one of Bashō's most celebrated historic sites, where he composed his famous haiku inspired by the temple's extraordinary stillness and the cry of cicadas. Rather than depicting the poet or his monument directly, Tokuriki focuses on the quiet landscape that inspired him—the ancient stone steps, weathered rocks, towering trees, and the deep silence that seems to linger in the mountain air. Through restrained colors, graceful composition, and an absence of overt drama, the artist transforms the scene into more than a picturesque temple view. It becomes a contemplative landscape where poetry, faith, and the passage of time are embedded in every stone.

The print is pencil-signed "T. Tokuriki" in the lower margin. The artist's block signature and red seal, both reading "Tomi," appear in the lower right corner of the image. The Japanese title "Yamadera Bashō Iseki" is printed in the left margin. The edition number is written in pencil in the lower right corner of the margin, and the artist's distinctive "Tomi" watermark is also present.

Technique: Woodblock
Paper size: 15 7/8 × 10 1/2 inches (40.3 × 26.8 cm)
Image size: 14 5/8 × 9 5/8 inches (37 × 24.5 cm)
Sheet number: 86/200
Date: 1986
Signed: Pencil-signed "T. Tokuriki" in the lower margin.
Condition: Very good condition. The upper margin shows a few natural creases characteristic of handmade Japanese washi paper and the traditional papermaking process. These are original paper characteristics rather than condition issues and do not affect the image.

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