Kakemono Two Koi in Plunging Water

One of a kind — this work exists only once.

Signature / Stamp:
Kanō Sōshū
Period:
Edo (1603–1868)
Dimensions (height x width):
102 x 28 cm
Item number:
3301

This piece has been sold.

Sold – no longer available

This piece was handmade by Kanō Sōshū and was a 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

  • Material HonshiPaper
  • MotifAnimals
  • TechniqueHand-Painted

Description

With powerful, broad brushstrokes, this painting captures a koi defying the current of a waterfall, while a second fish can already be seen below at the edge of the image, amid the spray of the waves. The ink painting draws its life from dynamism: blurred, broad strokes for the plunging water, clear contours for the scaled armor of the leaping fish.

The koi climbing a waterfall is one of the most popular motifs in Japanese painting and is especially closely associated with the Kano school, which flourished during the Edo period. According to a well-known legend, only one in ten thousand fish manages to climb the waterfall all the way to the top, where it transforms into a dragon.

This transformation story makes the koi a symbol of perseverance, willpower, and social advancement, a motif that remains highly popular throughout Japan to this day. The kakemono is painted on paper and was presumably created during the Edo period.

Frequently asked

Related topics