Flatfish Netting and Fish Boats by Utagawa Hiroshige

Flatfish Netting and Fish Boats Possibly 1853 - 1859

print, ink, color-on-paper

toned paper

water colours

print

japan

handmade artwork painting

ink

color-on-paper

coloured pencil

painting painterly

watercolour bleed

watercolour illustration

mixed media

watercolor

watercolur painting

This woodblock print, "Flatfish Netting and Fish Boats," is a ukiyo-e work by the renowned Japanese artist Utagawa Hiroshige, dating to between 1853 and 1859. The print showcases a group of fishing boats in the sea at sunset, with their nets outstretched, catching flatfish. The vibrant colors and delicate details are characteristic of Hiroshige's style, known for depicting landscapes and scenes of everyday life in Japan. The composition, featuring the boats in the foreground and a mountainous landscape in the background, creates a sense of depth and tranquility, inviting the viewer to imagine the bustling activity on the water.

Comments

minneapolisinstituteofart about 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.