One Hundred Famous Views of Edo No.58Thunderstorm at Ohashi (large bridge) and Atake

Downstream from Ryogoku Bridge, which spanned the Sumida River, was Ohashi, meaning “large bridge”. To keep pace with the development of a township on the southern part of the east bank of the river, it became necessary to build a bridge to connect Hamacho on the west bank and Fukagawa on the east. The bridge shown in this print was originally constructed in 1693, and it was about 200 metres long. Prior to it being built, citizens had to use a ferry to cross the river. After the bridge was built, the ferry was still available, but regardless of whether people used the ferry or the bridge, t they had to pay the same fee.
This print captures a moment when a sudden thunderstorm struck. From black thunderclouds, heavy rain is falling, as is shown by the almost vertical lines. The flustered passersby, caught by the sudden storm on the bridge, are deftly depicted. Two women hold up the hems of their kimonos in fear of getting wet. Three men share one umbrella among themselves and one man without an umbrella covers himself with a straw mat. All of them are hurrying to find shelter somewhere.
On the opposite bank of the river were storehouses to stow boats and other vessels owned by the shogunate. A vessel called Atakemaru for the use of the shogun was also stored there. Thus, the place was named Atake. The vessel can be dimly seen through the rain across the river.
This print appealed to Vincent van Gogh, a Dutchman of the French Impressionist school, who painted an oil modelled after this print.
( Written by Teruaki Hori )