Child Reaching for a Fishbowl
Nishimura Shigenaga (Japanese, 1697?-1756)
c. mid 1720s
Medium
hand-colored woodblock print
Dimensions
33.7 × 15.9 cm
Classification
Department
Japanese Art
Museum
Cleveland Museum of Art
Credit
The Kelvin Smith Collection, given by Mrs. Kelvin Smith
Accession Number
1985.349
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
This early hand-colored print is enriched with a technique called urushi-e (literally “lacquer picture”), in which glue is painted over areas of black pigment, producing a lustrous surface reminiscent of lacquer. Metal filings sprinkled onto the designs of parasols, a fan, and musical instruments on the woman’s kimono enhance the sense of luxury.