Hanga
Rainy Pond by Ray Morimura — Japanese Mokuhanga (Japanese woodblock)

Rainy Pond

by Ray Morimura

Medium:
Mokuhanga (Japanese woodblock)
Image courtesy of
Hanga Ten

Description

A pond rendered under falling rain, likely set within a temple or stroll garden where stone lanterns, koi, and reflective water surfaces are framed by overhanging branches. Morimura's treatment of rain typically uses fine parallel lines carved into the woodblock to produce uniform diagonal strokes across the printed image, a technique inherited from Hiroshige's late-period rain prints. The pond surface carries layered bokashi gradations to register both reflected sky and the disruptive patter of raindrops on water. Limited to a controlled palette—indigos, slate grays, accent greens—the print exemplifies Morimura's quieter mood pieces that depart from the saturated color of his temple festival subjects. It places him in dialogue with the long mokuhanga tradition of weather as emotional register, extending from Harunobu through the Shin-hanga movement, and demonstrates the seasonal sensitivity that runs throughout his garden imagery.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Rainy Pond was created by Ray Morimura (森村玲).

Rainy Pond depicts rivers & lakes.