Shōno--Driving Rain c. 1832 - 1833

This print, *Shōno—Driving Rain*, was created by Utagawa Hiroshige. Here, line and form work together to convey the immediate experience of a rainstorm. Note how the slanting lines dominate the composition, suggesting not just rain but also movement and the force of nature. Consider how Hiroshige uses the landscape—the hill, the trees—to frame and intensify the human struggle against the elements. The diagonal of the hill confronts the verticality of the rain, and the stooped postures of the travelers enhance this interplay. It is as though their bodies are mirroring the angle of the rain itself. The visual tension created by these formal choices evokes a sense of empathy for the figures. The artist employs a restricted palette of colors to set the mood. Here, the cool blues and greens contrast with warmer earth tones. This contrast emphasizes the dreariness of the weather, which is typical of Japanese *ukiyo-e* prints. The way Hiroshige orchestrates these elements underscores the print's power, not just to represent a scene, but to embody a feeling.