Flatfish Netting and Fish Boats by Utagawa Hiroshige

Flatfish Netting and Fish Boats Possibly 1853 - 1859

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print, watercolor, ink

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narrative-art

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print

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landscape

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ukiyo-e

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japan

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watercolor

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ink

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orientalism

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genre-painting

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mixed media

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watercolor

Dimensions: 13 9/16 × 9 in. (34.4 × 22.8 cm) (image, vertical ōban)

Copyright: Public Domain

This woodblock print, "Flatfish Netting and Fish Boats," was created by Utagawa Hiroshige in 19th-century Japan. The nets cast into the sea dominate our view, pulling up not only fish, but also crabs, those ancient symbols of navigation, change, and the moon’s hidden phases. Consider how the symbol of the 'catch' here, these sea creatures ensnared, echoes across time, from ancient Greek fishing scenes to modern advertising. The act of capturing something from the depths, be it a fish or an idea, resonates deeply with the human psyche. In dreams, fish often symbolize subconscious thoughts rising to the surface. Looking at Hiroshige's print, we can sense the primal satisfaction of the fishermen, pulling the net, enacting a ritual as old as humanity itself. This image taps into our collective memory, reminding us of our timeless connection to the sea and its bounty, a connection fraught with both sustenance and peril.

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minneapolisinstituteofart's Profile Picture
minneapolisinstituteofart over 1 year ago

Wakasa Bay, along the west coast of central Japan, has long been known as a prime spot for flatfish. Fishermen used nets to catch the fish, which live near the ocean floor. Here Hiroshige shows a group of fishermen in a large sail boat pulling up their nets. While some are firmly holding the edges of the net, others are busy keeping the sail in place so that the boat moves in the right direction. Hiroshige's inclusion of these details contributes to the scene's vividness and verisimilitude. As the net emerges, flatfish as well as some crabs appear on the surface of the water conveying the auspicious impression of a bountiful catch.

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