Passengers in a Ferry Boat on the Sumida River

1784

From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art

Dominant colour

Passengers in a Ferry Boat on the Sumida River is a 1784 by Torii Kiyonaga, a Romanticism work, held at Cleveland Museum of Art.

Who painted this?: Torii Kiyonaga
When & what style?: 1784 · Romanticism
Where can I see it?: Cleveland Museum of Art

About this work

This woodblock print shows six people on a riverbank. Three women in colorful kimonos—one sitting, two standing—chat near the water’s edge. Two men in black robes stand apart, one holding a fan. A child plays on the ground. The background has a distant bridge, trees, and a mountain. The artist used flat colors and clean lines to show daily life in Japan. Notice how the figures’ faces are simple but expressive, focusing on their poses and clothing. Look up The Cleveland Museum of Art to see where this print is kept.