Untitled

Utagawa Kuniyoshi

mid-19th century · Woodblock print; ink and color on paper · Asian Art

The closely spaced vertical lines that render steady, drenching rain in this print emphasize the simplified forms of river, hills, and a solitary tree, all depicted without outline. Kuniyoshi, one of the principal artists of the Utagawa school, is noted for his effective use of the itabokashi technique, in which ink and color are applied to the block in subtly changing tonalities. The block is then printed several times to deepen the gradation.

Artist

Utagawa Kuniyoshi

Date

mid-19th century

Medium

Woodblock print; ink and color on paper

Culture

Japan

Department

Asian Art

Credit line

The Howard Mansfield Collection, Purchase, Rogers Fund, 1936