Who painted 三俳優隅田川船遊び|Sumida River Holiday?

三俳優隅田川船遊び|Sumida River Holiday was painted by Torii Kiyonaga in 1789.

Where can I see 三俳優隅田川船遊び|Sumida River Holiday?

三俳優隅田川船遊び|Sumida River Holiday is held by Metropolitan Museum of Art.

What movement is 三俳優隅田川船遊び|Sumida River Holiday?

三俳優隅田川船遊び|Sumida River Holiday is associated with Romanticism.

Artwork

三俳優隅田川船遊び|Sumida River Holiday

Torii Kiyonaga , 1789

三俳優隅田川船遊び|Sumida River Holiday is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Torii Kiyonaga. It dates from 1789 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

About this work

Overview

Torii Kiyonaga’s triptych, titled “Sumida River Holiday,” dates to 1789 and comprises three woodblock prints executed in ink and color on paper. The work captures a lively scene along the Sumida River, where numerous figures occupy a series of boats. It is part of the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.

Subject & Meaning

The prints depict a festive river outing, with men and women dressed in brightly patterned kimono engaging in conversation, music, and leisure. Lanterns hang from the vessels, suggesting an evening setting, while distant hills and additional boats frame the central activity, emphasizing communal recreation along the waterway.

Technique & Style

Kiyonaga employs the ukiyo‑e woodblock method, using flat areas of pigment and simplified contours to convey motion and atmosphere. Figures are rendered with stylized facial features yet retain a sense of vitality, and the composition balances detailed patterning on clothing with broader, flattened background elements.

History & Provenance

Created in the late eighteenth century, the triptych reflects the popularity of river excursions among Edo‑period urbanites. After its production, the prints entered private collections before being acquired by the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where they remain on display as an example of late‑1700s Japanese printmaking.