A View of Mimeguri Shrine from the Sumida River, Shiba Kōkan, 1783

This work by shiba kokan (1747-1818), a famous western-style painter of the late edo period (1600-1867), is the first copperplate etching by a japanese artist. It depicts the landscape of mimeguri shrine at mukōjima, eastern edo (present-day tokyo), as seen from the bank of the sumida river. Because the etching was made for a peep-show box, left and right are reversed. Kokan was interested in western science and wrote works on astronomy and geography. In this picture, he uses western perspective drawing technique. Edo; rivers; sumida river. Date: 1783. Place of creation: Tokyo. Dimensions: 1 page ; 26.5 × 38.7 cm. Medium: photograph, prints. Collection: National Diet Library. A View of Mimeguri Shrine from the Sumida River WDL2928