Number 52 of 100 scenes of Edo (Tokyo), this is considered the masterpiece in this entire series and one of Hiroshige’s most famous rain scenes. Originally published in 1857, the composition exists in two versions. Which came first, however, has not been established. One version is as shown in this print. The other has two rafts to the right on the far shore, and the outline of the shadowy trees on the horizon is a little different. This is the last set of prints Hiroshige produced in his remarkable career of over 8,000 single sheets, prints in series, paintings, and drawings.
- Titles Sudden Shower over Shin-Ōhashi Bridge and Atake, from the series One Hundred Famous Views of Edo (Proper)@「名所江戸百景 大はしあたけの夕立」 (Proper)@Sudden Shower at Atake - The Great Bridge (Ohashi, Atake no yudachi), One Hundred Famous Views of Edo, no. 58 (Meisho Edo Hyakkei, 58) (Former title)
- Artist Ando Hiroshige, Japanese, 1797 - 1858@Published by, Uo-ya Eikichi, Japan
- Medium ink and color on paper
- Dimensions 14 5/8 x 10 in. (37.1 x 25.4 cm)
- Credit Line Gift of Ms. Garnet R. Leader, 1998.30
- Work Type woodblock print
- Classification Prints
- Signature Recto, printed in red cartouche, lower left: Hiroshige paints (廣重画, Hiroshige ga)
- Marks Recto, seals of censor, top right above image: aratame, Snake 9 (改、巳九) Recto, seal of publisher, lower left on border: Shita-ya / Uo-Ei (下谷 / 魚栄) Two censor seals at top right, publishers mark to lower left: Miku (?) [left]; Aratame [right]
- Inscription Recto, printed in red cartouche, top right: One Hundred Famous Views of Edo (名所江戸百景, Meisho Edo hyakkei) Recto, printed in square, top right: Sudden Shower over Shin-Ōhashi Bridge and Atake (大はしあたけの夕立, Ōhashi Atake no yūdachi)