Afternoon Shower at Mimeguri Shrine

Mimeguri Shrine in Mukojima was a bustling place for outings in Edo. This print shows people caught there in a sudden evening shower. The sheet shown here has rain slanting down beside a roofed red gate, with men and women hurrying along, sheltering from the rain under hats and clothing.

According to the museum's commentary, the upper part of the picture includes a thunder god linked to the haiku poet Kikaku's rain-calling.

Torii Kiyonaga is known for healthy-looking portraits of beauties set against scenic views during the Tenmei era (1781-89). This work is a large-format color woodblock triptych, a form that joins three large sheets into one wide scene, and is designated an Important Art Object.