Now a great many oriental images feature calligraphy and that is difficult with the 'Lake' applet. Reflected words are VERY distracting to the eye in a Lake applet, or at least in most cases they are. But here we feature an image which does not distract my eye - but perhaps a Japanese visitor might not agree? The work, first published in 1857, is by Japanese artist Utagawa (Andő) Hiroshige (1797-1858). Entitled 'Ohashi Bridge - Sudden Shower near Atake', it is from 'One Hundred Views of Famous Places in and around Edo'. Edo is today's Tokyo, I learn. The work (14 1/4 x 8 5/8 in.) is a woodblock print, so presumably many copies were printed, perhaps 200 in number. The source of Carol's image is unknown to me.

As a young man, the artist apprenticed in the studio of Utagawa Toyohiro. And in 1812, he took his teacher's name, a sign of graduation, I understand, signing his work thereafter Utagawa Hiroshige. A prolific artist, Hiroshige produced about 8,000 works in his lifetime. This image is one of a small number of works by Japanese artists on Carol Gerten's Fine Art website and the original image can be seen here (USA) or here, (Japan). Due to screen limitations, I cannot show the thunderous black sky at the top of the work. I really wish that I could. So do look at the image on Carol's site (links above) or see it here, for a very different rendition indeed. You will find here some interesting biographical information about the artist. For additional information, Artcyclopedia has many links to galleries and sites that feature Hiroshige's work.

An image of the artist can be found here.