Evening shower at Ohashi Bridge by Utagawa Hiroshige (1797 - 1858)

How does Hiroshige’s use of colour and composition create this striking depiction of figures being caught in a rainstorm?

Hiroshige was one of the first Japanese print designers to create landscape designs. This print is part of the series: One Hundred Famous Series title: Views of Edo People crossing the large bridge are caught in a summer rainstorm. This atmospheric print is one of the most famous of Hiroshige’s images and was copied in oils by Vincent van Gogh. The effect of the driving rain is created by using two separate woodblocks to overlay fine lines of slightly different greys in slightly different directions. Not on display. Available to view in Jameel Eastern Art Study Centre.

Link to Downloadable version of this image.