This depiction of a sudden downpour over Nihonbashi is one of the finest works from the ”Famous Places of Edo” series by Hiroshige. The series was published by Kikakudo. As rain begins to fall from an otherwise bright sky, people crossing the bridge hurry along under their umbrellas. Edo Castle, visible beyond the bridge, and Mount Fuji in the far distance are softly veiled by the rain. The transience of a passing shower is captured with remarkable immediacy. A masterful example of Hiroshige’s exceptional ability to evoke atmosphere and emotion through landscape.

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This print is from the masterpiece series by Kiyochika entitled "Celebrated Places of Tokyo." It became famous for the style of drawing light and shadow called "kosen-ga" that was influenced by Western painting. Expressions not found in previous ukiyo-e can be seen, such as the light and dark of the sky with rain clouds, the reflection in the water, and depictions of rain without drawing rain lines, suggesting the major changes in the times shifting from the Edo era to the Meiji era. The small back view of a woman drawn at the edge is impressive and gives a sense of the story.

“Bridge Ohashi and Atake in Sudden Shower” is part of a series Hiroshige created in his later years entitled “One Hundred Famous Views of Edo'' depicting various landscapes around Edo. It is also well known for being imitated by the Impressionist master Van Gogh. Ohashi was a bridge that spanned from Hamacho in Nihonbashi to Fukagawa Rokkenbori and was also called “Atake” because the shipyard of the Shogunate's official ship Atake-maru was located here. With a bold composition overlooking the large bridge, this is a masterpiece full of vivid sensations and lyrically depicts the intensity of a sudden summer shower.

This print is a reproduction of a scene depicting Shin Yanagibashi (present-day Yanagibashi) from Hokusai’s kyoka picture book, "Pictures of Both Banks of the Sumida River, Ehon Sumidagawa ryogan ichiran." In 1986, the original woodblocks for this book were re-discovered at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, and Adachi Institute conducted a detailed study at that time. The exhibition showcasing both the original woodblocks and the Shōwa-era reprints by Adachi garnered significant attention. This particular print was produced as a commemorative edition for that memorable exhibition, making it a valuable piece.

This print is one of the works from, Famous Places in the Sixty-odd Provinces a major late-life series by Hiroshige. It depicts Yamabushidani in Mimasaka (present-day Okayama Prefecture). In the vertical composition, strong winds are rendered with sweeping, broad curves that resemble brushstrokes, vividly conveying the scene of a traveler’s hat being blown away and the figure struggling against the wind. Advanced printing techniques such as bokashi (gradation) and kirazuri (mica printing) are skillfully employed to portray the dramatic force of the storm with striking intensity.

This uchiwa-e (fan print) was published by the publisher Tsujiyasuhei. As practical items, uchiwa-e featured a wide variety of subjects and seasonal themes. This particular print depicts a packhorse driver caught in a sudden downpour, using an empty rice bale to shield himself from the rain as he crosses a stream. The powerful depiction of rain falling in bold straight lines, along with the white space used to render the water and raindrops splashing off the ground, creates a strikingly dramatic scene.

Shown here are pious worshippers climbing a mountain path at night amidst cataracts of rain. They will pay homage to Sekison Gongen, the god of the shrine Afuri Jinja located on the summit. The delicate deep and light shades of blue for the rain, and sepia for the mountain, soften the lines of the rainfall like a rainbow while adding to the effect of depth. Mt. Fuji looms in silhouette in the background.