Cover art · river
Pleasure Boat on the Sumida River
Teisai Hokuba (Japanese, 1771–1844), 1800s.
Using it on a cover
The print file prints up to 11.3 x 8.2 in at 300 ppi — enough for a full 6 x 9 in front cover. Wider than a 6 x 9 cover: crop about 52% of the width, or use it as a wraparound across back and spine.
About the work
After a major fire in Edo (now Tokyo), the Yoshiwara licensed brothel district was relocated to an area accessed via boat along the Sumida River, giving rise to many compositions depicting travel there. Here, attendants with checkered robes serve refreshment to a client. A figure at the fore of the boat tends to the kitchen. A courtesan at the aft, or rear, surveys the river scene. Acquaintances converse in modest commuter boats, and fishers put in to a tiny island. The boat is near the entrance to the San’ya Canal, where pleasure-seekers would disembark.
More river art
Blessing of a Yacht on the Belon River
Maurice Denis (French, 1870–1943)1899
River and Mountains on a Clear Autumn Day
Dong Qichang (Chinese, 1555–1636)c. 1624–27
Reminiscences of Qinhuai River
Shitao (Chinese, 1642–1707)1642–1707
River Village in a Rainstorm
Lu Wenying (Chinese)c. 1480–1507
River Village: Fisherman's Joy
Zhao Mengfu (Chinese, 1254–1322)c. 1302–3
The White Path Between Two Rivers
Unknown artist1200s
Beauty in a Boat on Sumida River
Chōbunsai Eishi (Japanese, 1756–1829)c. 1801–4
The Lock at Pontoise
Camille Pissarro (French, 1830–1903)1872
Sources & data
- Artwork data and images from the Cleveland Museum of Art Open Access API (CC0).