A Night at Sumida River
- Date:
- ca. 1881
- Medium:
- Woodblock print (nishiki-e), ink and color on paper
- Format:
- Oban
- Dimensions:
- 24.1 × 36.2 cm
- Source:
- Minneapolis Institute of Art
Description
The Sumida River at night receives one of Kiyochika's most atmospheric treatments in this circa 1881 nishiki-e. A single boat crosses the dark water while lantern light from riverside establishments reflects in wavering columns on the surface. The composition pares the scene to near-abstraction: a few bold silhouettes, a strip of luminous water, and an ink-dark sky — a distillation of the nocturnal riverside Tokyo that Kiyochika chronicled more intimately than any of his contemporaries.
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Featured in Collections
Curated cross-cuts that include this print.
Frequently Asked Questions
A Night at Sumida River was created by Kobayashi Kiyochika (小林清親) in ca. 1881.
A Night at Sumida River depicts landscapes, rivers & lakes, and night scenes, set at Sumida River.
A Night at Sumida River measures 24.1 × 36.2 cm (Oban format).