Driving Rain at Shōno, from Fifty-Three Stations of the Tokaidō

Rain becomes a set of diagonal lines that makes every traveler seem to hurry at once.

What to notice

Follow the slant of the rain, bamboo, umbrellas, and road; Hiroshige makes weather control the entire composition.

Discover

Hiroshige used layered gray printing blocks to suggest distance while travelers rush through a sudden storm on the Tokaidō road. The print turns atmosphere into motion.