Vendedor de peixes dourados

Katsushika Hokusai

1800s

Vendedor de peixes dourados by Katsushika Hokusai, 1800s

Hokusai, usually famous for giant crashing waves, here captures a quiet, charming slice of daily life in Edo-period Japan. On the right, a woman sits by a large water tank, ladle in hand, ready to serve up a swimming prize—she is the goldfish vendor. A mother and her excited child approach her; the little one reaches up eagerly with a small bowl, likely begging for a pet, while the mother stands holding a large jar. It’s a delightful scene that shows the simple summer joy of buying a pet goldfish is a tradition centuries old.

Technique
Woodblock print
Material
Paper

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