Fishing
Original title: Fishing
kurzbeschreibung
Unlike many related prints by Utamaro, "Angeln" does not focus on a single beauty but on a small group in a boat: three figures on the water, two of them women holding fishing rods. This colour woodblock print was made in the late 18th century using ink and colour on paper.
Description
Two women in brightly patterned kimonos occupy the foreground; one holds a rod and looks ahead, the other gazes in the same direction. A child sits at the back of the boat. Carefully drawn waves support the scene, while pale lines behind suggest further movement on the water. Muted tones prevail, staying true to traditional colour schemes; the layout places the boat's occupants centrally. Even light falls across the whole, with no harsh shadows or glaring areas.
Context
Utamaro ranks among the defining masters of ukiyo-e in late 18th-century Japan. His work belongs to the Edo period, an era of lively cultural development and urban leisure culture. He became famous above all for his portrayals of women, often in scenes of everyday life or relaxation. Prints of this kind were issued in large editions and reached a wide audience.
Impact
The print comes across as calm and balanced, helped by the central arrangement of the figures and the evenly distributed light. Finely executed waves and subdued colours create a quiet, almost meditative mood. Viewers are drawn into the scene without dramatic effects seizing their attention.
Technique
To make the print, the design was cut into a woodblock and then transferred with colour onto paper. This process allows clear contours and flat areas of colour, as is typical of ukiyo-e prints. Ink and colour on paper fully match the usual practice of this art form.
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Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)