A Low Tide Pentaptych

Utagawa Kuniyoshi

Cleveland Museum of Art

Five-panel artwork depicting a scene by the water. The panels are side-by-side, rectangular and identical in size. The scene shows a shoreline with water on the bottom half and land on the top half. The water appears low, exposing gray rocks and sand. There are blue areas where deeper water exists. The land shows a tree on the right and a few boats on the horizon. The color palette includes shades of beige, blue, orange, red, black, and white. The artwork titled "A Low Tide Pentaptych" by Utagawa Kuniyoshi features five figures, all dressed in traditional Japanese clothing. The figures wear kimonos in various patterns and colors. The figures are barefoot. The first panel on the left shows a man in a blue and brown kimono holding a child. The second panel shows a woman sitting on a rock wearing a brown kimono. The third panel depicts a woman in a red and white kimono carrying a child while a man in a similar kimono looks on. The fourth panel shows a woman wearing a blue kimono bent over, possibly searching for something. The fifth panel on the right features a woman in a white kimono with a black parasol. Japanese characters are written at the top of each panel.