Veerboot op de rivier de Sumida 1785 - 1789

"Veerboot op de rivier de Sumida" (Ferryboat on the Sumida River), created by Torii Kiyonaga in 1785-1789, is a triptych woodblock print depicting a scene of everyday life in Edo (modern Tokyo). This work is a vivid example of ukiyo-e, the genre of Japanese art that flourished in the Edo period and celebrated the transient and fleeting aspects of daily life, often featuring scenes of pleasure, entertainment, and nature. The print showcases a ferry crossing the Sumida River, with elegantly dressed women and men navigating the waterway. The detailed and expressive depiction of figures, combined with the tranquil landscape, exemplifies Kiyonaga's mastery of the ukiyo-e style. This print is now in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.