Bridge in the rain (after Hiroshige)

Bridge in the Rain (after Hiroshige), painted in 1887, is Vincent van Gogh’s vivid homage to the Japanese ukiyo-e master Utagawa Hiroshige. Based on Hiroshige’s Sudden Shower over Shin-Ōhashi Bridge and Atake, Van Gogh reinterprets the scene in oil, intensifying the colors and textures with his own expressive brushwork.

The painting depicts figures crossing a wooden bridge during a sudden downpour, their forms bent under umbrellas as rain slants dramatically across the canvas. Van Gogh enriches the composition with bold outlines and a striking frame filled with Japanese motifs. This work reflects his deep admiration for Japanese aesthetics and his belief in their harmony with nature and everyday life. Bridge in the Rain fuses Eastern inspiration with Western technique, revealing Van Gogh’s evolving artistic vision and global influences.