UTAGAWA TOYOKUNI II - Night Rain At Oyama

THE ARTWORK

"Night Rain on Oyama" is a woodblock print by Utagawa Toyokuni II, published in 1830.

The print depicts a nighttime scene of Mount Oyama, a sacred mountain near Tokyo, during a heavy rain shower. In the foreground there is a structure that some believe to be a temple, but it could also be a tea house or another type of building. The building is partially obscured by the rain and shrouded in mist.

Mount Ōyama, the ancient center of mountain asceticism where the guardian king Fudō Myōō was enshrined, became a popular pilgrimage site during the eighteenth century. Prayers for rain were offered there, and it became standard to depict the mountain in the rain.

THE ARTIST

Utagawa Toyokuni II (1777 -1835), also known as Toyoshige, was a prominent Japanese ukiyo-e artist of the Edo period. He was a pupil of the renowned Utagawa Toyokuni I, eventually succeeding him and adopting his master's name. Toyokuni II specialized in yakusha-e, or actor prints, a genre that depicted kabuki actors in dramatic roles.

His style was characterized by bold lines, vibrant colors, and intricate detailing, capturing the essence and theatricality of kabuki performances. Toyokuni II's prints not only depicted the actors but also conveyed their emotions and the stories they portrayed on stage, making his works popular among the masses.

Toyokuni II's contribution to the ukiyo-e art form extended beyond his artistic prowess; he also played a significant role in the development of woodblock printing techniques, innovating processes that enhanced the quality and efficiency of print production.

THE PRINT

• A4 Size = 29.7cm x 21cm = 11.7" x 8.25"
• A3 Size = 42cm x 29.7cm = 16.5" x 11.7"
• High resolution giclée print - 600dpi
• Printed to order
• Unframed & unmounted
• Professionally printed using Canon imagePROGRAF printers
• Digitally restored by OharaPrints from high resolution scans of the original artwork
• Made in and shipped from Casterton, Victoria, Australia

PAPER

• Canson Infinity - Arches BFK Rives White
• Paper weight = 310gsm
• 100% cotton
• Archival, museum grade
• Acid free
• No OBAs (optical brightening agents)

Arches BFK Rives is a high-quality, archival-grade paper manufactured at the Arches paper mill in France - one of the oldest papermakers in Europe. It is made from 100% cotton rag using a time-honoured manufacturing process, giving the paper exceptional durability, longevity, and resistance to yellowing or deterioration over time. Despite its substantial weight and thickness it maintains a very soft and supple feel. The paper has a natural white tone and is completely free of any optical brighteners (OBAs), allowing for superb colour rendition and deep blacks.

INK

• Canon Lucia Pro Inks
• Pigment based
• Archival, museum-grade
• Brilliant colours, even gradient and razor-sharp lines
• Highly stable and fade resistant, excellent humidity-fastness

SHIPPING & HANDLING

• All orders are dispatched on the NEXT BUSINESS DAY after receiving the order
• All prints are shipped via AUSTRALIA POST with TRACKING
• For postage rates and estimated delivery times please see our SHIPPING page
• All prints are shipped flat, not rolled
• Each print is individually placed into a resealable, archival grade plastic protective sleeve
• Prints are carefully packaged in very sturdy 700gsm cardboard envelopes, along with 1050gsm boxboard sheets which provide extra strength & rigidity to prevent bending or folding during transit