Artwork preview

Futakawa, from the series The Fifty-three Stations of the Tōkaidō Road

Utagawa Hiroshige

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

A vintage Japanese woodblock print depicting a rainy scene from the series The Fifty-three Stations of the Tōkaidō Road by Utagawa Hiroshige. The scene shows a road curving to the right, lined with trees in the background. A tall tree with a thick trunk and sparse foliage dominates the center. People run along the road, some holding yellow umbrellas, wearing traditional clothing in shades of blue and red. On the left, a group of people seek shelter under a yellow-roofed structure. The background features a mountain range with numerous trees. The sky transitions from pinkish to purple to blue, with rain falling diagonally. Vertical Japanese text appears on the left and right sides of the print. The right side features a red banner with black text. The print has a beige border with a black outline. The color palette includes shades of yellow, blue, red, and purple. The composition captures a moment of people navigating through rain.

Artwork Details

Date
early 20th century
Medium
Woodblock print; ink and color on paper
Culture
Japan
Dimensions
599 × 462 px
Public Domain
Yes
Museum Record
View original
Palette