Ung mand og to kvinder fanger en karpe ved et hus nær Sumida-floden 1818 - 1822

Kikugawa Eizan made this woodblock print of two women and a young man catching a carp near the Sumida river in Japan, probably in the first half of the 19th century. Prints like this one were inexpensive and widely available, offering a glimpse into the leisure activities of the urban middle class. Here we see the codes of feminine beauty on display, with elaborate hairstyles, pale skin, and colourful kimonos. Carp are associated with perseverance and success, and the scene suggests a moment of shared accomplishment. This wasn’t an image intended for the elite, but for a wider population that had the means to buy art. The Sumida River itself was a popular destination, with the riverbanks often appearing in ukiyo-e prints. Through careful examination of these prints, and reference to historical records, we can learn a great deal about the social life of Japan's growing cities during the Edo period. The image reminds us that art is always tied to the economic, social, and cultural conditions of its making.