Bonito (Katsuo)

Object Details

• Artist

  Utagawa Toyohiro 歌川豊広 (1773-1828)

• Label

  Using appetizing touches of color, this painting depicts a freshly caught ocean fish known as bonito displayed at the fishmonger's on a piece of bamboo grass to protect its flavor. During the Edo period (1615-1868), bonito became a favored delicacy of late spring and summer, especially when served raw in slices called sashimi. The poem, inscribed by an unidentified writer, incorporates punning references to fish, but its meaning has not yet been deciphered.

• Collection

  Freer Gallery of Art Collection

• Exhibition History

  Bountiful Waters: Aquatic Life in Japanese Art (March 8 to September 14, 2014)

  Dinner for Five: Japanese Serving Dishes for Elegant Meals (March 4 to October 21, 2001)

• Origin

  Japan

• Credit Line

  Gift of John Fuegi and Jo Francis

• Type

  Painting

• Restrictions and Rights

  Usage Conditions Apply

  There are restrictions for re-using this media. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page.

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• Related Resources

  collections.si.edu

• Date

  1700s, 1710s, 1720s, 1770s, 1780s, 1790s, 1730s, 1740s, 1750s, 1760s, 1800s, 1810s, 1820s, 1830s, 1610s, 1650s, 1640s, 1630s, 1620s, 1690s, 1840s, 1680s, 1850s, 1670s, 1860s, 1660s

• Name

  Toyohiro, Utagawa

• Place

  Japan

• Topic

  Art, Ivory, Fishes, Edo period, Japan, (1600 - 1868), Japanese Art, Kakemono

• Culture

  Japanese

• Object Type

  Paintings