Hiratsuka near Kutsukake 1790 - 1848

This woodblock print, made by Keisai Eisen, captures a scene near Hiratsuka with travelers braving the rain. Dominating the scene is the relentless downpour, depicted by strong diagonal lines. Rain, a symbol deeply rooted in human consciousness, appears across cultures as a sign of purification, renewal, but also adversity. Think of the biblical flood or ancient fertility rites. The figures, hunched and moving against the storm, evoke the universal human struggle against nature's forces. Their posture mirrors figures in classical depictions of hardship, such as Laocoön struggling against serpents. This image taps into our collective memory of enduring against the odds. It reminds us that while rain can nourish, it can also challenge, and the way we navigate these trials shapes our story. This symbol is not linear but cyclical, resurfacing, evolving, and bearing new meanings across history.