Three Beautiful Women at Sumida River Bank

This painting portrays a scene of three women enjoying the cool air by the Sumida river. One woman with her hair wrapped in a handcloth is trying to catch fish in the water, holding a winnowing basket in her hand. One of the other two women who is sitting on a bench looks at her curiously, putting her kimono sleeve on her mouth. The last one seems relaxed, holding a pipe in her hand and sitting with one knee up. Who has her eyebrows shaved and we can see that she is older than the other two women on left hand side. It may be a scene of three sisters playing by the river. Such a scene must be familiar to Hokusai in summer season who is born and bred in Edo. Those women are dressed in a light summer garment called “ro,” through which red undergarments are seen. Though it may be hard to recognize as the pigments are now faded, fine pattern of flowers and grasses on their kimono are painted in detail using gold paint. Further, willow leaves swaying in a breeze bring refreshing air to one who sees it.