Fishing
late 18th century
Medium
Woodblock print; ink and color on paper
Dimensions
Image: 14 1/2 × 9 3/8 in. (36.8 × 23.8 cm)
Classification
Prints
Culture & Period
Japan · Edo period (1615–1868)
Department
Asian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Museum Accession
Accession Number
JP1095c
Tags
Art Historical Context
Kitagawa Utamaro's *Fishing*, a captivating woodblock print from the 18th century, exemplifies the golden age of ukiyo-e—"pictures of the floating world"—during Japan's Edo period (16151868). This intimate scene likely depicts elegant women engaged in fishing from boats, capturing the serene beauty of everyday life along rivers or coasts. Utamaro, a master of *bijin-ga* (images of beautiful women), was renowned for his delicate portrayals of courtesans, geisha, and ordinary women, infusing them with grace and subtle emotion. Produced amid booming urban culture in Edo (modern Tokyo), such print...
About the Artist
Kitagawa Utamaro · 1753–1806
Kitagawa Utamaro (c. 1753-1806) was one of the most celebrated masters of ukiyo-e woodblock printing, revolutionizing the art of bijin-ga (pictures of beautiful women) during Japan's Edo period. Born Kitagawa Ichitaro, his early life remains shrouded in mystery, with conflicting accounts placing his birth in Kyoto, Osaka, Yoshiwara in Edo (modern Tokyo), or Kawagoe in Musashi Province. Under the t...