Who painted First Print from A Low Tide Pentaptych?

First Print from A Low Tide Pentaptych was painted by Utagawa Kuniyoshi in 1830.

Where can I see First Print from A Low Tide Pentaptych?

First Print from A Low Tide Pentaptych is held by Cleveland Museum of Art.

What movement is First Print from A Low Tide Pentaptych?

First Print from A Low Tide Pentaptych is associated with Romanticism.

Artwork

First Print from A Low Tide Pentaptych

Utagawa Kuniyoshi , 1830

First Print from A Low Tide Pentaptych is a print by the Romanticist artist Utagawa Kuniyoshi. It dates from 1830 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art. This surimono print is the first panel of a five‑part series that depicts a group of figures gathering marine creatures during low tide.

About this work

This painting shows people collecting sea life at low tide.
It's one of five private prints with witty poems. The poems were written by a poetry circle in Edo, now Tokyo.
The poems add a fun touch to the scene, and this print may have been made in April, a good time for beachcombing.
You can learn more about this style by looking at the work of artist: Utagawa Kuniyoshi (Japanese, 1797–1861).

Overview

This surimono print is the first panel of a five‑part series that depicts a group of figures gathering marine creatures during low tide. Each sheet is linked to the others, together forming a continuous scene of beachcombing activity.

Subject & Meaning

The composition shows men and women bent over the exposed shoreline, collecting shells, crabs and other sea life. The light, playful atmosphere is reinforced by ten short, witty poems that run across the upper margin, two per sheet, adding a literary layer to the visual narrative.

Technique & Style

Executed in the surimono tradition, the print combines fine woodblock carving with hand‑applied pigments and gold leaf, allowing for delicate line work and rich coloration. The style reflects the early‑19th‑century Edo aesthetic, emphasizing both decorative elegance and narrative clarity.

History & Provenance

The poems were contributed by members of an Edo poetry circle led by Hisakataya Misora, an active poet in the 1810s–30s who authored four of the verses. The series was privately commissioned, likely produced in April, a month traditionally regarded as optimal for beachcombing in the region.

Context

Surimono were typically created for special occasions or private clubs, merging visual art with poetry for a cultured audience. This work exemplifies the collaborative culture of Edo‑period literary societies, where poetry and printmaking intersected to celebrate everyday leisure pursuits.

Artist & collection

Artist

Utagawa Kuniyoshi

Kuniyoshi grew up in old Tokyo when the city was still called Edo. His dad ran a silk shop, but Kuniyoshi loved anything with pictures—scrolls, screens, comic books. He talked his way into the Utagawa school, a kind of…