Passing Rain

White streaks of rain energize this composition as they cut across the deep colors of the subject’s kimono and hair. One of Itô Shinsui’s earliest prints depicting women, this work was made in two versions: one featuring a blue umbrella and one (seen here) in which it is brown. At this point in his career, Shinsui not only supplied designs but was also deeply involved in the printing process and color choices—an unusual level of input for a commercial print artist.