From the famous NIHON SANKAI MEISAN ZUE . The artist was Kangetsu Shitone and the series illustrates the Famous Sea and Land Products of Japan. In reality the products illustrated are from the Bay of Ise, south of Nagoya. Kangetsu's concept and many of his designs were plagiarised by Utagawa Hiroshige in the 1870's.
From the first printing in 1799.
Probably amongst the earliest illustrations of the women abalone divers (ana) working from boats. The women dived topless and sometimes naked and there was a spiritual element to the work.
Wood block.
Diptych.
300 x 200 mm.