Boating parties on the Sumida River

Date:: c. 1808/12
Medium:: Color woodblock print; nagaban, surimono
Format:: Nagaban
Source:: Art Institute of Chicago

Typical Price

Later reprint (Meiji–Taisho era publishers): $50–$400
Good later impression (Edo-period, worn blocks or faded): $2,000–$10,000
Good early impression (strong color, crisp lines): $10,000–$40,000
Fine early impression (exceptional color and condition): $40,000–$100,000

Hokusai's landscape prints beyond the Thirty-six Views span a remarkable range of viewpoints and weather conditions. Non-series landscape prints by Hokusai regularly appear in specialist Japanese print sales worldwide.

Description

Pleasure boats drift on the moonlit surface of the Sumida River during the summer festival season, their paper lanterns and lively passengers capturing the festive atmosphere of Edo's great summer water gatherings. Produced as a nagaban [surimono](/glossary/surimono) around 1808–12, the elongated horizontal format suits the leisurely sweep of the river, and the luxury printing would have been commissioned to commemorate a specific boating party or literary gathering.

More Prints by Katsushika Hokusai

The Fishermen of Katase Hauling in Their Nets: The Purple Shell (Murasakigai)

1821

Color woodblock print with metallic pigments; surimono shikishiban

Burdock Root (Kurama gobo), from the series "A Selection of Horses (Uma-zukushi)"

1822

Color woodblock print; shikishiban, surimono

Horse Shells (Umagai), from the series "A Selection of Horses (Uma-zukushi)"

1822

Color woodblock print; shikishiban, surimono

Orange Orchids, from an untitled series of flowers

c. 1832

Color woodblock print; oban

More Landscapes Prints

Lake Kugushi in Wakasa Province (Wakasa Kugushiko), from the series Souvenirs of Travel I (Tabi miyage dai isshu)"

Wakasa Kugushiko

1920

Color woodblock print; oban

Autumn Maple Leaves at Takao, from the album Eight Views of Kyoto (Kyôto hakkei)

Woodblock print

The Beach at Kaiganji in Sanuki Province (Sanuki Kaiganji no hama), from the series "Collection of Views of Japan II, Kansai Edition (Nihon fukei shu II Kansai hen)"

1934

Color woodblock print; oban

Tea Kettle, section of a sheet from the series "Mirror of Stone Rubbings of Views of the Provinces" (Kohon meihitsu ishizuri kagami)

n.d.

Woodblock print; ishizuri-e, section of harimaze sheet

Featured in Collections

Curated cross-cuts that include this print.

Mount Fuji in Japanese Woodblock Prints Meisho-e: Famous-Place Prints

Frequently Asked Questions

Boating parties on the Sumida River was created by Katsushika Hokusai (葛飾北斎) in c. 1808/12.

Boating parties on the Sumida River depicts landscapes, rivers & lakes, and seascapes, set at Sumida River.