Osen-rain
- Date:
- Early 20th century, or 1940s printing of earlier design
- Medium:
- Woodblock print; sumizuri-e
- Format:
- Oban
- Publisher:
- Watanabe Shozaburo
- Source:
- Art Institute of Chicago
Description
Osen, a famous Edo-period beauty associated with a tea shop near Kasamori Inari shrine, walks through rain in this sumizuri-e woodblock print. The sumizuri-e technique, printing in black ink only, gives the image a stark, calligraphic quality suited to Settai's precise line work. Osen was a celebrated subject in eighteenth-century ukiyo-e, immortalized by Harunobu and others, and Settai's return to this figure reflects his deep engagement with Edo-period visual culture. The rain adds movement and atmosphere to what might otherwise be a static portrait, the diagonal lines of falling water creating tension against the vertical figure. Settai's decision to work in monochrome emphasizes form and gesture over decorative color, distilling the image to its graphic essence.
More Prints by Komura Settai
More Rain Prints
Rain Shower at Shо̄no, from the series Fifty-three Stations of the Tо̄kaidо̄ (Tо̄kaidо̄ gojusan tsugi)
1962
Woodblock print, ink and color on paper
Shōno: Driving Rain (Shōno hakuu), from the series Fifty-three Stations of the Tōkaidō (Tōkaidō gojūsan tsugi no uchi), also known as the First Tōkaidō or Great Tōkaidō
c. 1833-36
Woodblock print (nishiki-e); ink and color on paper
Omiya in Rain (Ame no Omiya)
Ame no Omiya
1930
Color woodblock print; oban
Evening Shower at Teradomari (Teradomari no yau), from the series "Souvenirs of Travel, Second Series (Tabi miyage dai nishu)"
Teradomari no yau
1921
Color woodblock print; oban
Featured in Collections
Curated cross-cuts that include this print.
Frequently Asked Questions
Osen-rain was created by Komura Settai (小村雪岱) in Early 20th century, or 1940s printing of earlier design.
Osen-rain was published by Watanabe Shozaburo (Early 20th century, or 1940s printing of earlier design).
Osen-rain depicts rain.