Sanno Shrine Early Summer Rain, Japanese Woodblock Art Print

A cool, steady drizzle falls across the vermillion architecture, softening the edges of the sacred grounds. This print captures the quiet transition of early summer in Tokyo through the delicate lens of the Shin-hanga movement.

About ukiyo-e

Ukiyo-e artists such as Hokusai and Hiroshige influenced European Impressionists. A finished woodblock print could require a dozen or more separately carved blocks. The shin-hanga movement of the early 20th century revived woodblock printing for a modern audience. Western artists including Van Gogh and Monet collected Japanese prints and borrowed their bold compositions.

Styling this ukiyo-e print

Red and yellow tones give this ukiyo-e print a moody character that holds a room. Choose 24×36″ to make “Sanno Shrine Early Summer Rain” the focal point above a console, or 11×14″ to 16×20″ for a bedside or hallway wall. Finish “Sanno Shrine Early Summer Rain” with a natural wood frame with a cream mat: its red and yellow palette stands out against warm neutrals and charcoal. For a gallery wall, pair “Sanno Shrine Early Summer Rain” with two or three smaller prints, spaced 2–3 inches (5–8 cm) apart.

At a glance

• Type: Ukiyo-e print
• Style: Ukiyo-e, Japanese woodblock printing
• Colours: red and yellow
• Mood: moody
• Orientation: portrait
• Collections: Japanese Woodblock Prints, Ukiyo-e Japanese Prints