Artwork

Gathering Shellfish at Low Tide at Susaki, from Famous Places in Edo

Gathering Shellfish at Low Tide at Susaki, from Famous Places in Edo is a print by the Romanticist artist Utagawa Hiroshige. It dates from 1834 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.

About this work

The way the mast frames the view pulls you into the moment, like you’re floating right there in the bay.

You see people in straw hats wading through shallow water, gathering shellfish at low tide. A ship’s mast cuts across the left side, making it feel like you’re on the boat with them. Pine trees and a small shrine sit on the right.

Hiroshige made this print to show everyday life, not just rich people or famous scenes. The way the mast frames the view pulls you into the moment, like you’re floating right there in the bay.

If you like this, look up more prints from the subject: japan, edo period (1615–1868).

Overview

Gathering Shellfish at Low Tide at Susaki is a print by Utagawa Hiroshige depicting everyday life in Edo (now Tokyo) during the spring. The scene is set at Susaki, a coastal area renowned for its abundant shellfish harvests at low tide.

Subject & Meaning

Contrasting with typical depictions of Edo's elite, this print highlights working-class individuals gathering shellfish in shallow waters. The composition subtly juxtaposes laborers in the foreground with smaller, more distant figures of the leisure class.

Technique & Style

Hiroshige's design innovatively places the viewer on a ship, with the mast and rigging framing the left foreground, creating an immersive effect. The print balances dynamic human activity with serene natural elements, such as pine trees and the distant Susaki Shrine.

History & Provenance

Part of the 'Famous Places in Edo' series, this print dates back to the Edo period (1615–1868), reflecting Hiroshige's contribution to ukiyo-e woodblock printing.

Context

Created within the constraints of the Edo period's social hierarchy, the print offers a rare glimpse into the lives of common people, set against the backdrop of Edo Bay's natural beauty.

Artist & collection

Artist

Utagawa Hiroshige

Utagawa Hiroshige (歌川広重) or Andō Hiroshige (安藤広重), born Andō Tokutarō (安藤徳太郎; 1797 – 12 October 1858), was a Japanese ukiyo-e artist, considered the last great master of that tradition.