Artifact World Gallery
Get the iOS app

Artwork

Women with Salt Pails; The Noda Tama River in Mutsu Province, from an untitled series of the Six Tama Rivers

Kubo Shunman , 1784

Women with Salt Pails; The Noda Tama River in Mutsu Province, from an untitled series of the Six Tama Rivers, by Kubo Shunman, 1784
Women with Salt Pails; The Noda Tama River in Mutsu Province, from an untitled series of the Six Tama Rivers, by Kubo Shunman, 1784

Women with Salt Pails; The Noda Tama River in Mutsu Province, from an untitled series of the Six Tama Rivers is a print by the Romanticist artist Kubo Shunman. It dates from 1784 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.

Accession no.
1940.1021
Credit line
Bequest of James Parmelee

About this work

Overview

Created around 1784 by Kubo Shunman, this woodblock print is part of an unnamed series depicting the Six Tama Rivers.

Created around 1784 by Kubo Shunman, this woodblock print is part of an unnamed series depicting the Six Tama Rivers. It portrays a quiet scene of labor along the Noda Tama River in Mutsu Province. The work is held in the collection of The Cleveland Museum of Art and exemplifies the Edo-period tradition of landscape and everyday life prints, blending natural observation with subtle human activity.

Subject & Meaning

Three women stand on the riverbank, each carrying salt pails and staffs, engaged in the daily task of collecting or transporting salt. Their coordinated posture suggests communal labor, common in rural river communities. The scene avoids drama, instead emphasizing routine and harmony with the environment. The presence of a thatched-roof dwelling implies a settled, modest existence tied to the river’s resources.

Technique & Style

Rendered in muted earth tones, browns, tans, and soft grays, the print uses delicate linework and restrained color to evoke tranquility. Shunman employs subtle gradations and minimal detail, allowing the landscape to dominate. The composition is balanced, with figures placed low to emphasize the river and distant trees, reflecting the influence of literati aesthetics on Edo-period printmaking.

History & Provenance

The print originates from a small, now-lost series documenting rivers in the Tama region, likely commissioned for local patrons or circulated as affordable art. It entered the Cleveland Museum of Art’s collection through documented acquisitions in the 20th century. Its survival is notable, as many such prints were ephemeral, used or discarded after brief display.

Context

During the late 18th century, Japanese artists increasingly turned to regional landscapes and ordinary labor as subjects, moving beyond urban pleasure quarters. This print reflects a broader trend of nature-focused imagery tied to local identity and seasonal work. Salt collection along rivers was a practical, widespread activity, especially in areas where sea salt was scarce.

Legacy

Shunman’s work contributes to the understated tradition of Edo-period nature prints that valued quiet observation over spectacle. While not widely known outside specialist circles, this print exemplifies how everyday life was elevated through restrained composition and tonal harmony. It remains a quiet testament to the dignity of rural labor in pre-modern Japan.

井手の玉川|The Tama River at Ide, Yamashiro Province
井手の玉川|The Tama River at Ide, Yamashiro Province, Suzuki Harunobu

Artist & collection

MORE BY KUBO SHUNMAN

VISUALLY SIMILAR

Similarity 100 percent
This work is in the public domain (CC0). Image source: Cleveland Museum of Art open access. Spotted an error in this record? Tell us.In the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art. Compiled & edited by , Editor & Founder.

Reviews

Frequently asked questions

Who painted Women with Salt Pails; The Noda Tama River in Mutsu Province, from an untitled series of the Six Tama Rivers?

Women with Salt Pails; The Noda Tama River in Mutsu Province, from an untitled series of the Six Tama Rivers was painted by Kubo Shunman in 1784.

Where can I see Women with Salt Pails; The Noda Tama River in Mutsu Province, from an untitled series of the Six Tama Rivers?

Women with Salt Pails; The Noda Tama River in Mutsu Province, from an untitled series of the Six Tama Rivers is held by Cleveland Museum of Art.

What movement is Women with Salt Pails; The Noda Tama River in Mutsu Province, from an untitled series of the Six Tama Rivers?

Women with Salt Pails; The Noda Tama River in Mutsu Province, from an untitled series of the Six Tama Rivers is associated with Romanticism.

Can I buy a print of Women with Salt Pails; The Noda Tama River in Mutsu Province, from an untitled series of the Six Tama Rivers?

Museum-quality prints of Women with Salt Pails; The Noda Tama River in Mutsu Province, from an untitled series of the Six Tama Rivers are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.