Night Rain at Ōyama, from the series "Eight Famous Views of Kanagawa"

ca. 1830

Not on view

Utagawa Toyoshige, student of the first Toyokuni (1769–1825), succeeded to his master's name as Toyokuni II in 1825. In Utagawa genealogy, Toyoshige and the famous Hiroshige are something like cousins. The most famous print in the series "Eight Famous Views of Kanagawa," set west of Edo, is Night Rain at Ōyama. Mount Ōyama, the ancient center of mountain asceticism where the guardian king Fudō Myōō was enshrined, became a popular pilgrimage site during the eighteenth century. Prayers for rain were offered there, and it became standard to depict this place in the rain. The mysterious appearance of the mountain at night, with Mount Fuji visible in the distance, is achieved by rendering it without outline, in pointed contrast to the sharply delineated torrents in varying tones.

Despite differences between the steady downpour in Hiroshige's Karasaki print (JP52) they share an overall atmospheric effect..

Artwork Details

Title: Night Rain at Ōyama, from the series "Eight Famous Views of Kanagawa"
Artist: Utagawa Toyokuni II (Japanese, 1777–1835)
Period: Edo period (1615–1868)
Date: ca. 1830
Culture: Japan
Medium: Woodblock print; ink and color on paper
Dimensions: H. 9 1/2 in. (24.1 cm); W. 14 5/16 in. (36.4 cm)
Classification: Prints
Credit Line: Rogers Fund, 1922
Object Number: JP1416
Curatorial Department: Asian Art

More Artwork

By Utagawa Toyokuni II

In the same medium

From the same time and place

A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.

The Loyal League (Chushingura), Utagawa Toyokuni II Japanese, Pentaptych of woodblock prints; ink and color on paper, Japan — The Loyal League (Chushingura)
Utagawa Toyokuni II

Ichikawa Danjuro IV in the Role of Kagekiyo in the Play Enlightenment from a Series of Portraits of Danjūrō, Utagawa Toyokuni II Japanese, Woodblock print (surimono); ink and color on paper, Japan — Ichikawa Danjuro IV in the Role of Kagekiyo in the Play Enlightenment from a Series of Portraits of Danjūrō
Utagawa Toyokuni II
ca. 1834

Fuwa Banzaemon, Utagawa Toyokuni II Japanese, Hanging scroll; ink and color on silk, Japan — Fuwa Banzaemon
Utagawa Toyokuni II
19th century

Under the Wave off Kanagawa (Kanagawa oki nami ura), or The Great Wave, from the series Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji (Fugaku sanjūrokkei)
, Katsushika Hokusai Japanese, Woodblock print; ink and color on paper, Japan — Under the Wave off Kanagawa (Kanagawa oki nami ura), or The Great Wave, from the series Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji (Fugaku sanjūrokkei)
Katsushika Hokusai
ca. 1830–32

Six Jewel Rivers from Various Provinces, Utagawa Hiroshige Japanese, Six woodblock prints; ink and color on paper, Japan — Six Jewel Rivers from Various Provinces
Utagawa Hiroshige
1857

Research Resources

The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.

To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.

Feedback

We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.