Beyond Familiar Names · Subject 09 of 20 · 30 artists
Water can separate places and connect them. It supports a boat, reflects a building, interrupts a path, or makes the horizon difficult to locate. In these selected works, thirty artists provide occasions to consider water alongside travel, labor, and the experience of a particular setting. Follow shorelines and crossings, then look at the marks used for stillness or movement. A vessel may suggest a voyage, but its passengers and destination may remain unknown; the visible details give us a useful place to begin.
A 4½-minute gallery film featuring all 30 artists in this chapter. Music and artwork credits appear in the film and below.
Film soundtrack: Artists by Medium 09 - Marble Breath — an existing original instrumental from the Incoprea library, created with Suno under the owner’s Premier subscription.
Looking closely
Consider water as a setting for movement, exchange, labor, or contemplation.
Explore the 20 subjects
- 01. Faces and Identities
- 02. Bodies and Gesture
- 03. Childhood and Family
- 04. Rooms and Daily Life
- 05. Work and Trade
- 06. Streets and City Life
- 07. Architecture and Built Space
- 08. Land and Sky
- 09. Water and Voyages
- 10. Plants and Gardens
- 11. Animals and Other Creatures
- 12. Dress and Self-Presentation
- 13. Music, Theatre and Dance
- 14. Sacred Stories and Devotion
- 15. Myth, Allegory and Fantasy
- 16. Power, Conflict and Public Memory
- 17. Books, Words and Knowledge
- 18. Pattern and Ornament
- 19. Vessels and Useful Beauty
- 20. Small Treasures and Keepsakes
The 30 artists in this chapter
- G. B. Gething
- Andō Baiho
- Pierre-André Montauban
- Jan Rombouts
- Esias zur Linden
- Kurokawa Michita
- Rodney Poole
- Anthonie Waterloo
- Charles E. Barber
- Heinrich Winterstein
- Hasegawa Sadamasu 長谷川貞升
- Sylvester Dutton
- Li Yaofu
- Jaques Saverij
- George Hampden Lovett
- Kyūho
- Utagawa Yoshitomi
- W.A. Mansell
- J. Macarthy
- Pierre Macret
- Pan Yunyu
- Salomon Dreyer
- Utamaro II
- John Thomson
- Sheng Zhu
- Tsuchiya Yasuchika
- Utagawa Yoshimori
- Shi Zhong
- William P. Sherlock
- Karl Petrovich Beggrov
Artist 01 of 30
G. B. Gething
British
The Met credits G. B. Gething as the artist of The Lower Fall, dated 1856. The museum records its format as “Photograph” and its medium as “Albumen silver print.” Its collection record identifies the artist as “British.”
Its subjects include waterfalls.
Artist 02 of 30
Andō Baiho
Japanese, 1777–1825
The Met credits Andō Baiho as the artist of Fishing Village, dated 19th century. The museum records its format as “Screen” and its medium as “Six-panel folding screen; color on silk.” Its collection record identifies the artist as “Japanese, 1777–1825.”
Its subjects include boats.
Artist 03 of 30
Pierre-André Montauban
recorded 1806–10
The Met credits Pierre-André Montauban as the maker of Snuffbox, dated 1808–19. The museum records its format as “Snuffbox” and its medium as “Gold, enamel, marble.” Its collection record identifies the artist as “recorded 1806–10.”
Its subjects include waterfalls.
Artist 04 of 30
Jan Rombouts
South Netherlandish (Duchy of Brabant), 1475–1535
The Met credits Jan Rombouts as the maker of Christ Stilling the Tempest (one of a set of 12 scenes from The Life of Christ), dated ca. 1520–25. The museum records its format as “Panel” and its medium as “Stained glass.” Its collection record identifies the artist as “South Netherlandish (Duchy of Brabant), 1475–1535.”
Its subjects include boats.
Artist 05 of 30
Esias zur Linden
master 1609, died 1632
The Met credits Esias zur Linden as the maker of Ship (Nef), dated ca. 1609–20. The museum records its format as “Figure” and its medium as “Partly gilded silver.” Its collection record identifies the artist as “master 1609, died 1632.”
Its subjects include ships.
Artist 06 of 30
Kurokawa Michita
Japanese, active early 19th century
The Met credits Kurokawa Michita as the artist of Carp Trying to Swim up a Waterfall, dated probably 1820. The museum records its format as “Woodblock print” and its medium as “Woodblock print (surimono); ink and color on paper.” Its collection record identifies the artist as “Japanese, active early 19th century.”
Its subjects include waterfalls.
Artist 07 of 30
Rodney Poole
American, 1837–1921
![[Supply Steamers at Nashville, Tennessee] — Rodney Poole](https://images.metmuseum.org/CRDImages/ph/web-large/DP274828.jpg)
The Met credits Rodney Poole as the artist of [Supply Steamers at Nashville, Tennessee], dated 1862. The museum records its format as “Photograph” and its medium as “Albumen silver print from glass negative.” Its collection record identifies the artist as “American, 1837–1921.”
Its subjects include boats.
Artist 08 of 30
Anthonie Waterloo
Dutch, Lille 1609–1690 Utrecht
The Met credits Anthonie Waterloo as the artist of River Landscape with Mountain Stream, dated 17th century. The museum records its format as “Drawing” and its medium as “Black chalk heightened with white chalk, yellow-brown pastel and traces of red chalk on blue paper.” Its collection record identifies the artist as “Dutch, Lille 1609–1690 Utrecht.”
Artist 09 of 30
Charles E. Barber
1840–1917
The Met credits Charles E. Barber as the artist of Departure of U.S. Fleet on Cruise around the World, dated 1907. The museum records its format as “Medal” and its medium as “Bronze.” Its collection record identifies the artist as “1840–1917.”
Its subjects include ships.
Artist 10 of 30
Heinrich Winterstein
master 1585, died 1634
The Met credits Heinrich Winterstein as the maker of Ship (Nef), dated probably ca. 1620. The museum records its format as “Figure” and its medium as “Silver, partly gilt.” Its collection record identifies the artist as “master 1585, died 1634.”
Its subjects include ships.
Artist 11 of 30
Hasegawa Sadamasu 長谷川貞升
Japanese, active 1830s–40s
The Met credits Hasegawa Sadamasu 長谷川貞升 as the artist of “View of Mount Tenpō in Osaka” (Naniwa Tempōzan fukei), dated 1836. The museum records its format as “Woodblock print” and its medium as “Tetraptych of woodblock prints (nishiki-e); vertical ōban.” Its collection record identifies the artist as “Japanese, active 1830s–40s.”
Its subjects include boats.
Artist 12 of 30
Sylvester Dutton
American, active China, 1824–1866
The Met credits Sylvester Dutton as the artist of Augustine Heard & Co. Steamer "Kinshan", dated 1865. The museum records its format as “Photograph” and its medium as “Albumen silver print from glass negative.” Its collection record identifies the artist as “American, active China, 1824–1866.”
Its subjects include boats.
Artist 13 of 30
Li Yaofu
Chinese, active ca. 1300
The Met credits Li Yaofu as the artist of Bodhidharma crossing the Yangzi River on a reed, dated before 1317. The museum records its format as “Hanging scroll” and its medium as “Hanging scroll; ink on paper.” Its collection record identifies the artist as “Chinese, active ca. 1300.”
Artist 14 of 30
Jaques Saverij
Courtrai (Kortrijk) ca. 1565–Amsterdam 1603
The Met credits Jaques Saverij as the artist of River Landscape, dated ca. 1600. The museum records its format as “Drawing” and its medium as “Pen and brown ink.” Its collection record identifies the artist as “Courtrai (Kortrijk) ca. 1565–Amsterdam 1603.”
Its subjects include rivers.
Artist 15 of 30
George Hampden Lovett
1824–1894
The Met credits George Hampden Lovett as the artist of Award of Merit to the Hammond Typewriter Co., dated 1888. The museum records its format as “Medal” and its medium as “Bronze.” Its collection record identifies the artist as “1824–1894.”
Its subjects include ships.
Artist 16 of 30
Kyūho
Japanese, active 1789–1801
The Met credits Kyūho as the artist of Case (Inrō) with Landscape Design of Sumiyoshi Shrine, dated ca. 1800. The museum records its format as “Inrō” and its medium as “Gold maki-e with black lacquer Ojime: metal or lacquered bead Netsuke: ivory carved with design of chrysanthemum and waves.” Its collection record identifies the artist as “Japanese, active 1789–1801.”
Its subjects include bridges.
Artist 17 of 30
Utagawa Yoshitomi
Japanese, active mid-19th century
The Met credits Utagawa Yoshitomi as the artist of Dutch Ship, dated 2nd month, 1861. The museum records its format as “Print” and its medium as “Woodblock print; ink and color on paper.” Its collection record identifies the artist as “Japanese, active mid-19th century.”
Its subjects include ships.
Artist 18 of 30
W.A. Mansell
British
The Met credits W.A. Mansell as the artist of Port de Dinan, Brittany, dated 1856. The museum records its format as “Photograph” and its medium as “Albumen silver print.” Its collection record identifies the artist as “British.”
Its subjects include boats, bridges, rivers.
Artist 19 of 30
J. Macarthy
British (?), active New York, 1801
The Met credits J. Macarthy as the artist of View of New York, dated 1801. The museum records its format as “Drawing” and its medium as “Pen and ink, brush and gray wash.” Its collection record identifies the artist as “British (?), active New York, 1801.”
Its subjects include boats, rivers.
Artist 20 of 30
Pierre Macret
1727–after 1796
The Met credits Pierre Macret as the maker of Upright secretary, dated ca. 1765–70. The museum records its format as “Secretary” and its medium as “Lacquer, satinéwood, tulipwood and purplewood; brèche d'Alep marble.” Its collection record identifies the artist as “1727–after 1796.”
Its subjects include bridges.
Artist 21 of 30
Pan Yunyu
Chinese, active ca. 15th–16th century
The Met credits Pan Yunyu as the artist of Setting Sun on the Autumn River, dated 1604 or 1664. The museum records its format as “Folding fan mounted as an album leaf” and its medium as “Folding fan mounted as an album leaf; ink and color on gold paper.” Its collection record identifies the artist as “Chinese, active ca. 15th–16th century.”
Its subjects include boats.
Artist 22 of 30
Salomon Dreyer
ca. 1699–1762, master 1735
The Met credits Salomon Dreyer as the maker of Ship, dated 1744. The museum records its format as “Figure” and its medium as “Silver gilt.” Its collection record identifies the artist as “ca. 1699–1762, master 1735.”
Its subjects include ships.
Artist 23 of 30
Utamaro II
Japanese (died 1831?)
The Met credits Utamaro II as the artist of Group of Women on the Engawa of a Country House, in the time of the Cherry Blossoming, dated ca. 1806. The museum records its format as “Woodblock print” and its medium as “Woodblock print; ink and color on paper.” Its collection record identifies the artist as “Japanese (died 1831?).”
Its subjects include rivers.
Artist 24 of 30
John Thomson
British, Edinburgh, Scotland 1837–1921 London
The Met credits John Thomson as the artist of Mercantile Junks at Canton, dated ca. 1869. The museum records its format as “Photograph” and its medium as “Albumen silver print from glass negative.” Its collection record identifies the artist as “British, Edinburgh, Scotland 1837–1921 London.”
Its subjects include boats.
Artist 25 of 30
Sheng Zhu
Chinese, active late 14th century
The Met credits Sheng Zhu as the artist of Angling in the Autumn River, dated ca. 1370. The museum records its format as “Fan mounted as an album leaf” and its medium as “Fan mounted as an album leaf; ink and color on silk.” Its collection record identifies the artist as “Chinese, active late 14th century.”
Its subjects include rivers.
Artist 26 of 30
Tsuchiya Yasuchika
Japanese
The Met credits Tsuchiya Yasuchika as the artist of Case (Inrō) with Design of Fisherman, Boat, Reeds, and Stone Basket Breakwaters, dated 19th century. The museum records its format as “Inrō” and its medium as “Gold maki-e with pewter, mother-of-pearl, and metal inlay; Ojime: cloisonné bead; Netsuke: carved wood creel with lacquer puffer fish.” Its collection record identifies the artist as “Japanese.”
Its subjects include boats.
Artist 27 of 30
Utagawa Yoshimori
Japanese, 1830–1884
The Met credits Utagawa Yoshimori as the artist of A Glance at Miyosaki, Yokohama, dated ca. 1860. The museum records its format as “Print” and its medium as “Diptych of woodblock prints; ink and color on paper.” Its collection record identifies the artist as “Japanese, 1830–1884.”
Its subjects include boats, ships.
Artist 28 of 30
Shi Zhong
Chinese, 1438–after 1506
The Met credits Shi Zhong as the artist of Winter landscape with fisherman, dated late 15th–early 16th century. The museum records its format as “Hanging scroll” and its medium as “Hanging scroll; ink on paper.” Its collection record identifies the artist as “Chinese, 1438–after 1506.”
Its subjects include boats.
Artist 29 of 30
William P. Sherlock
British, 1770—1821
The Met credits William P. Sherlock as the artist of Major Money Adrift in the North Sea, dated early 19th century. The museum records its format as “Print” and its medium as “Lithograph with hand coloring.” Its collection record identifies the artist as “British, 1770—1821.”
Artist 30 of 30
Karl Petrovich Beggrov
Russian, 1799–1875
The Met credits Karl Petrovich Beggrov as the artist of The Neva River, dated ca. 1800–1850. The museum records its format as “Print” and its medium as “Lithograph.” Its collection record identifies the artist as “Russian, 1799–1875.”
Its subjects include boats, rivers.
