Fishing Boats with Nets under Ryōgoku Bridge

1790s

Not on view

Boats carrying beautiful women and fishermen nearly collide on the Sumida River near Ryōgoku Bridge, a famous summer locale. The three fishermen wearing straw skirts in the foreground are a parody of the three protagonists of the foundation story of the Asakusa temple. After two brothers caught a sculpture of the bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara (Kannon) in their net, they and the village leader who built the first temple to house the statue were worshipped as manifestations of the deity in the three shrines of Asakusa, and an annual festival in their honor has continued to the present day.

Artwork Details

Title: Fishing Boats with Nets under Ryōgoku Bridge
Artist: Kitagawa Utamaro (Japanese, ca. 1754–1806)
Period: Edo period (1615–1868)
Date: 1790s
Culture: Japan
Medium: Triptych of woodblock prints; ink and color on paper
Dimensions: a: H. 14 7/8 in. (37.8 cm); W. 9 7/8 in. (25.1 cm)
b: H. 15 in. (38.1 cm); W. 9 3/4 in. (24.8 cm)
c: H. 14 5/16 in. (36.4 cm); W. 9 15/16 in. (25.2 cm)
Classification: Prints
Credit Line: H. O. Havemeyer Collection, Bequest of Mrs. H. O. Havemeyer, 1929
Object Number: JP1687
Curatorial Department: Asian Art

More Artwork

By Kitagawa Utamaro

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“Preparing Food for the Warbler,” from the album Men’s Stamping Dance (Otoko dōka, uguisu no esa suri)

, Kitagawa Utamaro Japanese, Page from a woodblock printed book; ink and color on paper, Japan — “Preparing Food for the Warbler,” from the album Men’s Stamping Dance (Otoko dōka, uguisu no esa suri)
Kitagawa Utamaro
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The Lady Tomimoto Toyohina Reading a Letter, Kitagawa Utamaro Japanese, Woodblock print; ink and color on paper, Japan — The Lady Tomimoto Toyohina Reading a Letter
Kitagawa Utamaro
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Women Preparing Sashimi, Kitagawa Utamaro Japanese, Woodblock print; ink and color on paper, Japan — Women Preparing Sashimi
Kitagawa Utamaro
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In the Kitchen, Kitagawa Utamaro Japanese, Right-hand sheet of a diptych of woodblock prints; ink and color on paper, Japan — In the Kitchen
Kitagawa Utamaro
ca. 1794–95

Girl Fishers and Bathers, Kitagawa Utamaro Japanese, Triptych of woodblock prints; ink and color on paper, Japan — Girl Fishers and Bathers
Kitagawa Utamaro
1791

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