Who painted Five drawings of figures in Tanka boats?

Five drawings of figures in Tanka boats was painted by George Chinnery in 19.

Where can I see Five drawings of figures in Tanka boats?

Five drawings of figures in Tanka boats is held by Victoria and Albert Museum.

What movement is Five drawings of figures in Tanka boats?

Five drawings of figures in Tanka boats is associated with Romanticism.

Artwork

Five drawings of figures in Tanka boats

George Chinnery , 19

Five drawings of figures in Tanka boats is a drawing by the Romanticist artist George Chinnery. It dates from 19 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum. The work consists of five small paper drawings executed in 1825.

About this work

These five quick sketches show boat workers in Tanka boats. The artist drew them on paper in 1825. Four drawings show women standing with long steering poles. The fifth sketch shows a man bending over a fish basket.

Chinnery’s loose lines catch the workers’ daily motion. The paper is small, so each mark counts.

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Overview

The work consists of five small paper drawings executed in 1825. Each sketch captures a figure associated with a Tanka boat, a traditional Japanese watercraft. Four of the images portray women standing upright while holding long steering poles; the remaining drawing shows a man bent over a basket of fish. Two of the sheets are oriented at a right angle to the viewer.

Subject & Meaning

The figures illustrate everyday labor on the waterways, emphasizing the gendered roles within Tanka boat crews.

The figures illustrate everyday labor on the waterways, emphasizing the gendered roles within Tanka boat crews. The women’s upright stance with steering poles highlights their responsibility for navigation, while the man’s stooped posture with a fish basket conveys the task of handling the catch. Together, the studies provide a concise visual record of maritime work life in early nineteenth‑century Japan.

Technique & Style

Rendered with quick, fluid lines, the drawings demonstrate a loose, gestural approach that prioritises movement over detail. The artist’s economy of stroke is forced by the modest size of the paper, requiring each mark to convey form and action efficiently. The sketches lack shading, relying on line weight to suggest volume and the dynamic posture of the subjects.

History & Provenance

Created by the British artist George Chinnery during his residence in China, the drawings were produced as part of his interest in East Asian subjects. They entered the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum, where they are catalogued as a group of preparatory studies of Tanka boat workers, reflecting Chinnery’s cross‑cultural observations of the period.

Artist & collection

Artist

George Chinnery

George Chinnery (Chinese: 錢納利; 5 January 1774 – 30 May 1852) was an English painter who spent most of his life in Asia, especially India and southern China.