Sudden Shower over Shin-Ohashi
The artist
Utagawa Hiroshige, a Japanese artist who was wonderful at painting rain, snow, and changing weather.
What you see
People hurry across a long bridge as a sudden rainstorm pours down from a dark gray sky.
The story
Made in 1857, it shows the Shin-Ohashi bridge in old Tokyo caught in a fast summer downpour.
The style
Hiroshige drew the rain as thin straight lines slanting across the whole picture, so you can almost feel it.
Look closer
Look at the travelers holding straw mats and umbrellas over their heads to stay dry.
Where to see it
Like the plum garden, it comes from 'One Hundred Famous Views of Edo', with copies in many collections.
Fun fact
Vincent van Gogh also painted a copy of this rainy scene, learning from Hiroshige's clever ideas.