Woman Carrying a Tray of Fish on her Head

Kitao Shigemasa (mentioned on object), c. 1790 - c. 1810

Een vrouw draagt een mand met een zeebaars en kreeft op haar hoofd. Volgens de tekst was het gebruikelijk voor vrouwen van lagere klasse om op de 16e dag van de eerste maand in uitbundige kleding vis te dragen. Met één gedicht.

  • Artwork typeprint, surimono
  • Object numberRP-P-1999-232
  • Dimensionsheight 185 mm x width 85 mm
  • Physical characteristicsnishikie, with metallic pigments and blindprinting

Discover more

more by Kitao Shigemasa

Vrouwelijke krijger Tomoe Gozen in harnas met zwaard op paard

attributed to Kitao Shigemasa, 1770 - 1780

Vrouwelijke krijger Tomoe Gozen in harnas met zwaard op paard

Bloemen van voorspoed

Kitao Shigemasa, 1771 - 1772

Bloemen van voorspoed

Papegaai in een pruimenboom

Kitao Shigemasa (mentioned on object), c. 1805 - c. 1810

Papegaai in een pruimenboom

Acteursportret met gedicht

Kitao Shigemasa (mentioned on object), 1762

Acteursportret met gedicht

Zee van snaarinstrumenten

Kitao Shigemasa, 1788

Zee van snaarinstrumenten

De achtste maand

Kitao Shigemasa (mentioned on object), 1768 - 1772

De achtste maand

Kitao Shigemasa

Woman Carrying a Tray of Fish on her Head

Japan, Japan, c. 1790 - c. 1810

Provenance

…; purchased from the dealer C.P.J. van der Peet Japanese Prints, Amsterdam, by J.H.W. Goslings (1943-2011), Epse, near Deventer, 1996;1Coll. cat. Goslings 2004, p. 12, cat. no. 327 by whom donated to the museum, 1999

Object number: RP-P-1999-232

Credit line: Gift of J.H.W. Goslings, Epse

Context

Kitao Shigemasa was probably the first designer to work in the shikishiban format, the square surimono popular from the late 1810s onwards. Similar early designs in this format are illustrated in Hempel2Hempel, Rose, Japanische Holzschnitte. Neuerwerbungen der Sammlung Theodor Scheiwe. Cologne: W. Muller, 1969, p. 85; Hempel (produced by Shunman)3Hempel, Rose, Ukiyo-e. Die Kunst der heiteren vergänglichen Welt, Japan 17.?19. Jahrhundert, Sammlung Scheiwe. Recklinghuisen: Bongers, 1972, p. 278.; Forrer4Forrer, Matthi, Egoyomi and Surimono. Their History and Development. Uithoorn: J. C. Gieben, 1979, p. 34. and Markus5Markus, Helena, Surimono. Stampe augurali nel Giappone del ‘700 e ‘800 /.../ Torino. Florence: Luca Giusti, 1983, p. 55. all dated 1808.

The artist

Biography

Kitao Shigemasa (1739-1820) was probably self-taught; he created a good alternative to the continuing influence of the feminine ideal of the 1760s (Harunobu and Koryusai), and occasionally collaborated with Katsukawa Shunsho. He thus paved the way for Kiyonaga and Utamaro. He also used the art-names Karan and Kosuisai. Shigemasa designed most of his surimono in his later years.

Entry

A woman in fine clothing carrying a wooden tray of sea bream, tai, and a lobster on her head.

According to the explanatory text at the top of the print, it was customary for lower-class women to wear elaborate clothes and carry fish on the 16th Day of the First Month. The design alludes to that custom.

One poem by Haikairyo.

Issued by the poet
Signature reading: Shigemasa hitsu

Literature

M. Forrer, Surimono in the Rijksmuseum Amsterdam, Leiden 2013, no. 32

Citation

M. Forrer, 2013, 'Kitao Shigemasa, Woman Carrying a Tray of Fish on her Head, Japan, c. 1790 - c. 1810', in Surimono from the Goslings Collection in the Rijksmuseum, online coll. cat. Amsterdam: https://data.rijksmuseum.nl/200413479

(accessed 8 December 2025 17:34:10).

Footnotes

  • 1Coll. cat. Goslings 2004, p. 12, cat. no. 327
  • 2Hempel, Rose, Japanische Holzschnitte. Neuerwerbungen der Sammlung Theodor Scheiwe. Cologne: W. Muller, 1969, p. 85
  • 3Hempel, Rose, Ukiyo-e. Die Kunst der heiteren vergänglichen Welt, Japan 17.?19. Jahrhundert, Sammlung Scheiwe. Recklinghuisen: Bongers, 1972, p. 278.
  • 4Forrer, Matthi, Egoyomi and Surimono. Their History and Development. Uithoorn: J. C. Gieben, 1979, p. 34.
  • 5Markus, Helena, Surimono. Stampe augurali nel Giappone del ‘700 e ‘800 /.../ Torino. Florence: Luca Giusti, 1983, p. 55.