Artwork Page for Net Fishing at Night on the Sumida River

Details / Information for Net Fishing at Night on the Sumida River

Net Fishing at Night on the Sumida River

c. 1800

Kitagawa Utamaro 喜多川 歌麿

(Japanese, c. 1754–1806)
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Culture
Japan, Edo period (1615–1868)
Medium
One of a triptych of color woodblock prints
Measurements
Sheet: 38.6 x 25.4 cm (15 3/16 x 10 in.)
Credit Line
Gift of Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Wade 1916.1116.b
Public Domain
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Location
Not on view
Print

Description

Pleasure-boating in the evening on the Sumida River to escape the summer’s heat was about as popular as viewing cherry blossoms in spring for Edo townspeople. The river also led the way to the Yoshiwara, the licensed brothel district. A boating party with courtesans and gentlemen jostles up next to a fishing boat. Utamaro enjoyed portraying a scene through the design of a fishing or mosquito net. The different colors of the net suggest these impressions may be from two different series.
A vertically oriented woodblock print depicts a scene overlaid with a red mesh net. In the upper section, a person crouches on a boat roof holding a pole. Below, two women with light skin tones and dark hair gaze toward our right. In the foreground, a dark fish leaps from rippling water near a small boat. Vertical Japanese calligraphy appears in the top right corner.

Net Fishing at Night on the Sumida River

c. 1800

Kitagawa Utamaro

(Japanese, c. 1754–1806)
Japan, Edo period (1615–1868)

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