Print 1786 - 1854

This print was created by Utagawa Kunisada, who died in 1865, and is now housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art. It's a captivating study in contrasts, where the serene blues of the water meet the geometric patterns of the figure's kimono. The composition is divided into distinct registers: the foreground with the figure, the middle ground with the water, and the background with the suggestion of land. This layering creates depth, but flattens the space, pushing the viewer's eye across the surface of the print. The artist's use of line is equally deliberate, defining the forms and creating a sense of movement in the water. Kunisada disrupts traditional perspective, and creates a visual experience that is both decorative and deeply engaging. He invites us to consider how an artwork can be a site of cultural encoding, reflecting and shaping our understanding of the world.