Artwork Page for Child Reaching for a Fishbowl

Details / Information for Child Reaching for a Fishbowl

Child Reaching for a Fishbowl

c. mid 1720s

Nishimura Shigenaga

(Japanese, 1697?-1756)
Culture
Japan, Edo period (1615–1868)
Medium
hand-colored woodblock print
Measurements
Sheet: 33.7 x 15.9 cm (13 1/4 x 6 1/4 in.)
Credit Line
The Kelvin Smith Collection, given by Mrs. Kelvin Smith 1985.349
Public Domain
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Location
Not on view
Print

Description

This early hand-colored print is enriched with a technique called urushi-e (literally “lacquer picture”), in which glue is painted over areas of black pigment, producing a lustrous surface reminiscent of lacquer. Metal filings sprinkled onto the designs of parasols, a fan, and musical instruments on the woman’s kimono enhance the sense of luxury.
A vertically oriented, hand-colored woodblock print on cream paper depicts a woman and child with light skin. On the left, the woman wears a patterned yellow and orange kimono, carrying drums and boxes on her back. She holds a round fishbowl containing orange fish toward a child at right. Wearing a red floral kimono, the child reaches upward. To the right, vertical columns of Japanese calligraphy and red seals are inscribed.

Child Reaching for a Fishbowl

c. mid 1720s

Nishimura Shigenaga

(Japanese, 1697?-1756)
Japan, Edo period (1615–1868)

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