Vissen en schelpen verzamelen bij laag water. c. 1788 - 1792

This is *Vissen en schelpen verzamelen bij laag water* or, *Collecting Fish and Shells at Low Tide,* a woodblock print by Utagawa Toyokuni I, created in Japan. The composition places us on the same plane as the three elegantly dressed women, encouraging us to read the surface of the print, and appreciate the materiality of the figures and landscape. Notice how the artist uses distinct lines and colors to define shapes, with the bold outlines delineating the figures and trees creating a clear structure within the scene. The contrasting patterns and colors of the kimonos, the striped fabric against the floral motifs, create a visual rhythm that leads the eye across the image. The print’s formal elements like the texture of the wood grain and the flat rendering of space, speak to the cultural codes and aesthetic values of the time. It invites reflection on how art encodes cultural and philosophical themes without necessarily representing them directly, challenging any fixed notions of beauty. It allows us to rethink what constitutes meaning in art, suggesting that it is always evolving.