Flatfish Netting and Fish Boats Possibly 1853 - 1859

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.