Hiroshige Utagawa, Japanese print: The Hundred Views of Edo: Downpour on the Shin-Ōhashi Bridge in Atake

Japanese print, woodcut, Ukiyo-e by Hiroshige Ando "Shower on the Shin-Ōhashi Bridge in Atake" from the 100 famous sites of Edo. The colors are bright and fresh, the gradients of quality. This is a very beautiful reissue from the Shōwa era produced according to traditional Japanese methods of print production, in the rules of the art of ukiyo-e. It is always very pleasant to feel the relief of the wooden ink pads, when passing your hand over this print, photo 5 aims to show this relief and the quality of the washi paper used.
Very good condition, Shōwa era, Japan.

Dimensions, ōban format, tate-e orientation:
Height: 26.4cm
Width: 41cm

On “Shower on the Shin-Ōhashi Bridge in Atake” from the 100 Views of Edo series:
This is a particularly renowned print within the series, as evidenced by the reproduction made by Vincent van Gogh in 1887. Erected in 1693, the Shin-Ōhashi Bridge, also known as the “new great bridge” , suffered extensive damage from fires and floods, being rebuilt twenty times during its first fifty years of existence.

The lower part of the print shows the Shin-Ōhashi Bridge, illustrating the curve of its central section, where pedestrians find themselves caught off guard by a downpour, seeking shelter as best they can. The vast surface of the Sumida-gawa is crossed by a wooden raft, while the lower part, corresponding to the port area of Atake, is outlined in darkness. The horizon slopes down in front of the bridge and rises again, forming a triangular composition with two intersecting diagonals. The central element of the image is the striking atmospheric effect achieved by the thin lines of rain which run throughout the image, creating a powerful vertical effect which accentuates the intensity of the storm.

Ref: 20T8OJMOGI