Ghat in Varanasi (Benares)

Object Details

• Artist

  Yoshida Hiroshi 吉田博 (1876-1950)

• Label

  The ancient city of Varanasi or Benaras (Benares) on the banks of the Ganges River was from ancient times a center of religion and learning as well as an important pilgrimage site sacred to Hindus. Buddhist pilgrims pass through Varanasi en route to nearby Sarnath, the scene of the historical Buddha's first teachings in the fith and sixth centuries B.C.E. Yoshida's print focuses on the activities along the river where the water reflects the colorful clothing of the people gathered there and the shadows of the buildings at the top of the stairs. Pilgrims descend the ghats, steps built along the riverbank, to bathe in the sacred waters. Women also use the area to lay out laundered saris to dry.

• Provenance

  To 1996

  Henry Edwin Robison (1913-2008), Palo Alto, CA, to 1996

  From 1996

  Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, given by Henry Edwin Robison in 1996

• Collection

  National Museum of Asian Art Collection

• Exhibition History

  Yoshida Hiroshi: Japanese Prints of India and Southeast Asia (August 1 to October 17, 1999)

• Previous custodian or owner

  Henry Edwin Robison (1913-2008)

• Origin

  Japan

• Credit Line

  Gift of H. Ed Robison in memory of Katherine W. Robison

• Type

  Print

• Restrictions and Rights

  Usage Conditions Apply

  There are restrictions for re-using this media. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page.

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Keep Exploring

• Related Resources

  collections.si.edu

• Date

  1930s

• Name

  Robison, Henry Edwin

• Place

  Japan

• Topic

  Art, Showa era (1926 - 1989), Japanese Art, Bathing

• Culture

  Japanese

• Object Type

  Prints