Kakemono Koi Above the Reeds in Clear Water

One of a kind — this work exists only once.

Period:
Shôwa (1926–1989)
Dimensions (height x width):
190 x 50 cm
Item number:
3967

This piece has been sold.

Sold – no longer available

This piece was a handmade one-of-a-kind work. It cannot be reordered and will never exist in this form again. The page stays online as part of our archive.

More items in category AnimalsAll one-of-a-kind Japanese Painting pieces

See new one-of-a-kind pieces first

We feature every delivery from Japan in the newsletter first – before the pieces show up in search results.

About once a week. No spam. Promised. Unsubscribe at any time via the link in each issue.

By signing up you accept our privacy policy.

You might like these pieces

Details about the sold piece

  • JikusakiBone
  • Material HonshiSilk
  • MotifAnimals
  • TechniqueHand-Painted

Description

With the finest, transparently applied layers of color, a koi is captured here, swinging elegantly upward through the water, while its fins blur softly as if in the flow of the water, lending the fish an almost weightless grace that pervades the entire pictorial space.

The koi has long been regarded in Japan as a symbol of endurance, courage, and success, as legend has it that it swims against the current to become a dragon at the top of a waterfall – an image that continues to be understood as a symbol of good fortune to this day. Reed stalks at the lower edge of the picture indicate the fish's natural habitat and round off the composition.

Painted on paper in the Shôwa period and fitted with roller ends made of bone, this hand-painted unique work is a graceful example of classical Japanese animal painting with a fine sense of movement and light. To this day, the koi remains one of the most popular animal motifs in Japanese painting and is often given as a gift with the wish for success.

Frequently asked

Related topics