Amitabha Buddha. Edo Era, Japan, ca. 1700.

Amitabha Buddha. Edo Era, Japan, ca. 1700.
Carved wood, gilded with gold leaf.
Measurements: 56,5 x 24 cm.

This Japanese sculpture of Buddha Amitabha (Amida Nyorai), dated around 1700 in the middle of the Edo period, is a devotional work of extraordinary quality, conceived for a high-ranking cult context. Made of carved wood and gilded with gold leaf, it combines with great subtlety the brightness of the garments with the dark patina of the fleshy areas, creating a symbolic contrast that alludes to the "infinite light" associated with this deity.

The figure stands serenely on a complex lotus flower, resting on a richly decorated multi-level architectural pedestal, which reinforces its monumentality despite its size. The face, of meditative expression and contained features, responds to the aesthetic ideal of early Edo, where spirituality is translated into formal balance. Her hands adopt mudras of protection and welcome, evoking her role as a guide to the Pure Land.

The fineness of the carving, the integrity of the original support and the excellent state of conservation of the gilding make this image an exceptional testimony of 18th century Japanese Buddhist statuary, comparable to museum pieces for its artistic, historical and spiritual value.