Praying for Rain Komachi (Amagoi Komachi)
Edo period (1615–1868), 1770
Medium
Color woodblock print; chuban
Dimensions
26.7 × 19.7 cm (10 1/2 × 7 3/4 in.)
Classification
woodblock print
Department
Arts of Asia
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
21120
Art Historical Context
In the vibrant world of Edo-period Japan, Shiba Kokan *Praying for Rain Kom (Amagoi Komachi)* captures a timeless legend from 1770. This color woodblock print depicts Ono no Komachi, the legendary 9th-century poetess renowned for her beauty and wit, fervently praying for rain amid drought. Rendered in the chuban format—a compact size ideal for affordable, portable art—this piece (26.7 × 19.7 cm) reflects the ukiyo-e tradition of celebrating "floating world" themes, blending poetry, folklore, and human emotion. Shiba Kokan, a pioneering artist of the late 18th century, bridged traditional Japa...