Ryogoku

About this artwork

Jonge vrouw op steiger bij de Roygoku brug, pratend met vrouw met pijp in linker hand, zittend in boot; op de achtergrond bootjes op de rivier de Sumida.

Art Historical Context

**Ryogoku** by Katsukawa Shunchō (active ca. 1780–1795) captures a lively moment along the Sumida River in Edo (modern Tokyo) during the late 18th century. This color woodcut print, measuring just 261 × 190 mm, depicts a young woman standing on the pier near the iconic Ryogoku Bridge, chatting animatedly with another woman seated in a boat below, pipe in her left hand. In the background, small boats dot the bustling river, evoking the vibrant urban life of the Edo period. Shunchō, a master of the ukiyo-e ("pictures of the floating world") tradition from the Katsukawa school, specialized in el...

About the Artist

Katsukawa Shunchō (Japanese) · 1775 –1795

Japanese, active ca. 1783–95