Shōno- Driving Rain by Utagawa Hiroshige

Shōno- Driving Rain c. 1832 - 1833

print, ink, color-on-paper

imaginative character sketch

toned paper

print

japan

personal sketchbook

ink

color-on-paper

coloured pencil

sketchbook drawing

watercolour bleed

watercolour illustration

cartoon carciture

sketchbook art

watercolor

"Shōno - Driving Rain" is a woodblock print created by the famous Japanese artist Utagawa Hiroshige, circa 1832-1833. The print depicts a group of travelers struggling to ascend a steep path amidst a downpour, highlighting the challenges of travel in Japan during the Edo period. The use of vibrant colors, particularly in the travelers' clothing and the rain-soaked landscape, creates a dynamic and evocative scene. This work is a prime example of Hiroshige's mastery of ukiyo-e, the popular art of the Edo period, and showcases his talent for capturing the beauty and realism of everyday life in Japan.

Comments

minneapolisinstituteofart about 1 year ago

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Hiroshige is justifiably renowned for his ability to effectively convey different times of day, atmospheric conditions, and weather. The small government checkpoint at Sho_no, lacking any distinguishing physical landmark, allowed him to concentrate on rendering a rainstorm. Fine diagonal lines arranged in irregular bands effectively convey the sheets of rain that pelt the travelers along the roadway. The distant bamboo grove, too, convincingly portrays the gusting wind. Through the postures of the travelers, Hiroshige further suggests the ferocity of the storm. The palanquin bearers carefully maintain a steady gait on the wet road, while the figures descending the hill break into a run as the maelstrom intensifies.