Hanga

Fish Prints (241)

Fish and aquatic life in Japanese woodblock prints. From Ohno Bakufu's celebrated series of 72 fish prints to Koson's leaping carp, fish symbolize perseverance, abundance, and the bounty of Japan's surrounding seas.

Artists Known for Fish

Oniwakamaru subduing the giant carp by Totoya Hokkei

Oniwakamaru subduing the giant carp

c. 1830/35

Color woodblock print; shikishiban diptych, surimono

Two Carp by Kikuchi Yōsai

Two Carp

19th century

Hanging scroll; ink and color on silk

Fisherman by Komuro Suiun

Fisherman

漁夫

Taishō–early Shōwa period (c. 1920s–1930s)

Color woodblock print

Fish and shells by Ryūryūkyo Shinsai

Fish and shells

1821

Color woodblock print; shikishiban, surimono

Kingfisher on Lotus Plant by Taki Katei

Kingfisher on Lotus Plant

蓮に翡翠図

ca. 1880-1890

Color woodblock print

The Red Carp by Utagawa Toyokuni I

The Red Carp

c. 1804/18

Color woodblock print; oban

Cuttle Fish by Kikuchi Yōsai

Cuttle Fish

Early 19th century

Woodblock print (surimono); ink and color on paper

Fish, Flower & Kanon by Shiko Munakata

Fish, Flower & Kanon

Actual Sketch of A Good Catch in Drag-Net Fishing at Kujukuri Beach in Kazusa Province — 上総九十九里地引網大漁猟正写之図 by Takahashi Shotei

Actual Sketch of A Good Catch in Drag-Net Fishing at Kujukuri Beach in Kazusa Province — 上総九十九里地引網大漁猟正写之図

Table Setting With Fish by Toru Mabuchi

Table Setting With Fish

Fishing Boat on Reed Covered Bank and Calligraphy by Kameda Bōsai

Fishing Boat on Reed Covered Bank and Calligraphy

18th to 19th century

Album leaves mounted as hanging scrolls; ink on paper

Fishing Village of Akiya by Ōshita Tōjirō

Fishing Village of Akiya

秋谷の漁村

1905

Watercolour on paper

Forty-Eight Famous Views of Tokyo: Gathering Shellfish at Susaki by Shōsai Ikkei

Forty-Eight Famous Views of Tokyo: Gathering Shellfish at Susaki

東京名所四十八景 洲崎乃汐干

c. 1871

Color woodblock print (nishiki-e); ink and color on paper

Fishing, from the series "A Set of Ten Beauties in Flowerlike Styles (Enshoku hana fuzoku ju awase)" by Torii Kiyonaga

Fishing, from the series "A Set of Ten Beauties in Flowerlike Styles (Enshoku hana fuzoku ju awase)"

c. 1782

Color woodblock print; chuban

Bottle with a goldfish design by Totoya Hokkei

Bottle with a goldfish design

c. late 1820s

Color woodblock print; shikishiban, surimono

Red Carp Ascending a Waterfall by Yashima Gakutei

Red Carp Ascending a Waterfall

late 1820s

Part of an album of woodblock prints (surimono); ink and color on paper

Kingfisher, Irises and Wild Pinks by Katsushika Hokusai

Kingfisher, Irises and Wild Pinks

ca. 1834

Print

Fishing Boats at Choshi in Shimosa (Soshu Choshi) from the series "One Thousand Pictures of the Ocean (Chie no umi)" by Katsushika Hokusai

Fishing Boats at Choshi in Shimosa (Soshu Choshi) from the series "One Thousand Pictures of the Ocean (Chie no umi)"

c. 1833/34

Color woodblock print, chuban Chuban size

Fishing by Torch in Kai Province (Koshu hiburi) from the series "One Thousand Pictures of the Ocean (Chie no umi)" by Katsushika Hokusai

Fishing by Torch in Kai Province (Koshu hiburi) from the series "One Thousand Pictures of the Ocean (Chie no umi)"

c. 1833/34

Color woodblock print; chuban

Young Man with Fishing Pole and Net by Suzuki Harunobu

Young Man with Fishing Pole and Net

c. 1769

Color woodblock print; hashira-e

Summer: Fishing in the River by Suzuki Harunobu

Summer: Fishing in the River

1765-1770

Print

Kingfisher and Chinese Bellflowers by Utagawa Hiroshige

Kingfisher and Chinese Bellflowers

early or mid-1830s

color woodblock print

Fishing Excursion by Kitagawa Utamaro

Fishing Excursion

c. 1799

Color woodblock print; right sheet of aiban triptych

Fishing beneath a Bridge by Kitagawa Utamaro

Fishing beneath a Bridge

c. 1800

Color woodblock print; naga-oban

Goldfish, from the series "Elegant Comparison of Little Treasures (Furyu kodakara awase)" by Kitagawa Utamaro

Goldfish, from the series "Elegant Comparison of Little Treasures (Furyu kodakara awase)"

c. 1802

Color woodblock print; oban

Urashima Taro Going Home on the Back of a Tai Fish, the King of the Sea Seeing Him Off by Totoya Hokkei

Urashima Taro Going Home on the Back of a Tai Fish, the King of the Sea Seeing Him Off

19th century

Part of an album of woodblock prints (surimono); ink and color on paper

Gathering Shellfish at Low Tide at Susaki, from Famous Places in Edo by Utagawa Hiroshige

Gathering Shellfish at Low Tide at Susaki, from Famous Places in Edo

mid-1830s

color woodblock print

Flatfish, scorpion fish, and shells, from an untitled series of chuban prints by Katsushika Hokusai

Flatfish, scorpion fish, and shells, from an untitled series of chuban prints

c. 1831

Color woodblock print; chuban

Kingfisher above a Yellow-flowered Water Plant by Utagawa Hiroshige

Kingfisher above a Yellow-flowered Water Plant

1853, third month

Color woodblock print; aitanzaku

Young Man and Boy Returning from Fishing by Suzuki Harunobu

Young Man and Boy Returning from Fishing

c. 1767/68

Color woodblock print; hashira-e

Flying fish and Ichimochi, from an untitled series of fish by Utagawa Hiroshige

Flying fish and Ichimochi, from an untitled series of fish

c. 1840/42

Color woodblock print; oban, trimmed

Courtesan Riding a Carp (parody of the Daoist Immortal Kinko [Chinese: Qin Gao]) by Suzuki Harunobu

Courtesan Riding a Carp (parody of the Daoist Immortal Kinko [Chinese: Qin Gao])

c. 1768/69

Color woodblock print; hashira-e

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

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

1821

Color woodblock print with metallic pigments; surimono shikishiban

Self-Portrait as a Fisherman by Katsushika Hokusai

Self-Portrait as a Fisherman

1835

Color woodblock print with metallic pigments; surimono shikishiban

Gold-Fish in a Glass Bottle by Totoya Hokkei

Gold-Fish in a Glass Bottle

19th century

Woodblock print (surimono); ink and color on paper

Yellowtail, blowfish, and plum branch by Utagawa Hiroshige

Yellowtail, blowfish, and plum branch

c. 1840/42

Color woodblock print; oban

Grey Mullet (Bora) and Curnelia (Tsubaki), from the series A Shoal of Fishes (Uo-zukushi) by Utagawa Hiroshige

Grey Mullet (Bora) and Curnelia (Tsubaki), from the series A Shoal of Fishes (Uo-zukushi)

Late Edo period, 19th century

Woodblock printed "ōban"-sized triptych; ink and color on paper

Silhouette of a Fisherman and a Child by Suzuki Shōnen

Silhouette of a Fisherman and a Child

ca. 1881

Color woodblock print

Fish Scow by Thomas Handforth

Fish Scow

1928

Etching on cream laid paper

Black Seabream (Kurodai), Small Seabream (Kodai) and Japanese Peppercorns (Sansho), from the series A Shoal of Fishes (Uo-zukushi) by Utagawa Hiroshige

Black Seabream (Kurodai), Small Seabream (Kodai) and Japanese Peppercorns (Sansho), from the series A Shoal of Fishes (Uo-zukushi)

Late Edo period, 19th century

Ukiyo-e woodblock print in "ōban" format; ink and color on paper

Fishing from a Secluded Cove (No. 3 from Henan Hasshō, Eight Excellent Views of Henan) by Sakai Bunsei

Fishing from a Secluded Cove (No. 3 from Henan Hasshō, Eight Excellent Views of Henan)

河南八勝 第三 釣魚

c. 1830s

Color woodblock print

Goggle-eyed Sea Bream and Bamboo Grass, from an untitled series known as Large Fish by Utagawa Hiroshige

Goggle-eyed Sea Bream and Bamboo Grass, from an untitled series known as Large Fish

19th century

Woodblock printed "ōban"-sized triptych; ink and color on paper

Lobster (Ise ebi) and Prawn (Ama ebi), from the series A Shoal of Fishes (Uo-zukushi) by Utagawa Hiroshige

Lobster (Ise ebi) and Prawn (Ama ebi), from the series A Shoal of Fishes (Uo-zukushi)

20th century

Woodblock print; ink and color on paper

Fishing Boats at Tsukudajima (Tsukudajima gyoshū), from the series Thirty-six Views of the Eastern Capital (Tōto sanjūrokkei) by Utagawa Hiroshige

Fishing Boats at Tsukudajima (Tsukudajima gyoshū), from the series Thirty-six Views of the Eastern Capital (Tōto sanjūrokkei)

1862 (Bunkyū 2), 6th month

Woodblock print (nishiki-e); ink and color on paper

Carp Ascending Waterfall by Hasegawa Sadanobu I

Carp Ascending Waterfall

19th century

Color woodblock print

Bunpō gafu, fisherman in punt by Kawamura Bunpō

Bunpō gafu, fisherman in punt

文鳳画譜

1807

Four-tone woodblock-printed book illustration

Fisherman in a Mist-Enshrouded Landscape by Hishida Shunsō

Fisherman in a Mist-Enshrouded Landscape

Meiji era, c. late 1890s

Hanging scroll; ink and color on silk

River Landscape with Fishing Boat and Distant Mountains by Sakai Bunsei

River Landscape with Fishing Boat and Distant Mountains

山水図

c. 1830s–1840s

Color woodblock print

Gurnard (Kanagashira), Right-Eye Flounder (Konoa-garei) and Bamboo Grass (Sasa), from the series A Shoal of Fishes (Uo-zukushi) by Utagawa Hiroshige

Gurnard (Kanagashira), Right-Eye Flounder (Konoa-garei) and Bamboo Grass (Sasa), from the series A Shoal of Fishes (Uo-zukushi)

19th century

Ukiyo-e woodblock print; ink and color on paper

Mountain Landscape with Fishing Village (No. 5 from Henan Hasshō, Eight Excellent Views of Henan) by Sakai Bunsei

Mountain Landscape with Fishing Village (No. 5 from Henan Hasshō, Eight Excellent Views of Henan)

河南八勝 第五

c. 1830s

Color woodblock print

Mountainous Coastline with Bays and Fishing Boats by Sakai Bunsei

Mountainous Coastline with Bays and Fishing Boats

山水図

mid-19th century

Color woodblock print

Carp in Waterfall Pattern (Taki ni koi), from the book Illustrated Encyclopedia for Women (Joyo kinmo zui) by Yoshida Hambei

Carp in Waterfall Pattern (Taki ni koi), from the book Illustrated Encyclopedia for Women (Joyo kinmo zui)

女用訓蒙図彙・滝に鯉

1687

Woodblock-printed book; ink on paper

Prawn (Kuruma ebi), Horse Mackerel (Aji), and Smartweed (Tade) from the series A Shoal of Fishes (Uozukushi) by Utagawa Hiroshige

Prawn (Kuruma ebi), Horse Mackerel (Aji), and Smartweed (Tade) from the series A Shoal of Fishes (Uozukushi)

Late Edo period, 19th century

Woodblock print (nishiki-e); ink and color on paper

Large-Eye Seabream (Mede tai) and Bamboo Grass (Sasa), from the series A Shoal of Fishes (Uo-zukushi) by Utagawa Hiroshige

Large-Eye Seabream (Mede tai) and Bamboo Grass (Sasa), from the series A Shoal of Fishes (Uo-zukushi)

19th century

Ukiyo-e woodblock print; ink and color on paper

Gathering Shellfish at Low Tide at Susaki (Susaki shiohi-gari)  by Utagawa Hiroshige

Gathering Shellfish at Low Tide at Susaki (Susaki shiohi-gari)

1862

Print

Snapper (Isaki), Scorpionfish (Kasago) and Ginger (Shin shōga), from the series A Shoal of Fishes (Uo-zukushi) by Utagawa Hiroshige

Snapper (Isaki), Scorpionfish (Kasago) and Ginger (Shin shōga), from the series A Shoal of Fishes (Uo-zukushi)

Late Edo period, 19th century

Ukiyo-e woodblock print in "ōban" format; ink and color on paper

Nakamura Shikan IV as the Fishmonger Aratota by Utagawa Sadamasu

Nakamura Shikan IV as the Fishmonger Aratota

1841

Woodblock print (nishiki-e), ink and color on paper; vertical chūban

Summer Mountains Carpeted with Green by Kawamura Bunpō

Summer Mountains Carpeted with Green

ca. 1825

Woodblock print

Flathead (Kochi) and Eggplants (Nasubi), from the series A Shoal of Fishes (Uo-zukushi) by Utagawa Hiroshige

Flathead (Kochi) and Eggplants (Nasubi), from the series A Shoal of Fishes (Uo-zukushi)

late 19th century

Woodblock print (nishiki-e); ink and color on paper

Woodcutters and Fishermen by Matsumura Goshun

Woodcutters and Fishermen

山樵漁夫図屏風

ca. 1790–95

Pair of six-panel folding screens; ink and color on paper

Related Subjects

Frequently Asked Questions

Fish and aquatic life in Japanese woodblock prints. From Ohno Bakufu's celebrated series of 72 fish prints to Koson's leaping carp, fish symbolize perseverance, abundance, and the bounty of Japan's surrounding seas.

Ohno Bakufu, Utagawa Hiroshige, and Katsushika Hokusai are among the artists most associated with fish in our collection. Browse the full list of artists who explored this subject above.

Hanga currently catalogues 241 prints tagged with fish, spanning ukiyo-e, shin-hanga, and sōsaku-hanga traditions where applicable.