Omiya in Rain

Omiya, a town north of Tokyo in Saitama Prefecture known for the Hikawa Shrine and its broad approach lined with ancient zelkova trees, provided Hasui with a subject combining architectural elements, deep forest passages, and the atmospheric possibilities of rain. A composition set in rain at Omiya would likely show the stone lanterns and torii of the Hikawa precincts receding into darkness under wet conditions, with reflections pooling on the approach path and foliage rendered in the muted greens and blacks that rain reduces color to. The long straight avenue of zelkova trees at Hikawa Shrine was one of the most photographed and painted sacred spaces in the Kanto region, and Hasui's print would position it within the meisho-e tradition while applying the atmospheric intensity of his best weather subjects. Rain lines printed across the full block surface unify the composition.