Artwork Page for A Low Tide Pentaptych

Details / Information for A Low Tide Pentaptych

A Low Tide Pentaptych

汐干五番内

c. 1830

Utagawa Kuniyoshi 歌川 国芳

(Japanese, 1797–1861)
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Culture
Japan, Edo period (1615–1868)
Medium
Pentaptych of color woodblock prints
Measurements
Each: 21.2 x 18.4 cm (8 3/8 x 7 1/4 in.)
Credit Line
Gift of Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Wade 1916.1108
Public Domain
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Location
235A Japanese
Print
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Did You Know?

A pentaptych is a composition of five parts.

Description

Five surimono 刷物, privately commissioned prints known literally as "printed things," make up this image of women collecting sea life at low tide. Ten poems written by members of a poetry salon appear across the upper part of the composition. All but one contain the words "low tide," with the remaining poem describing abalone as a sought-after jewel.
This pentaptych of color woodblock prints features five horizontal scenes of women and a child with light skin tones gathering shells at low tide. From left to right, figures bend over the sand, crouch by the water, stand together, reach into a pool, and pause beside a massive anchor. Their patterned robes in blue, brown, and red contrast with the muted gray background filled with columns of Japanese calligraphy above a distant shoreline.

A Low Tide Pentaptych

c. 1830

Utagawa Kuniyoshi

(Japanese, 1797–1861)
Japan, Edo period (1615–1868)

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