Two carp among waves
Kanō School
Description
Subject Matter:
In Japan, images of carp among waves represent strength and perserverence, as the fish are known to swim upstream and are generally associated with the calendric festival on the fifth day of the fifth month. More specifically, it is an adaption of a Chinese motif depicting carp of the Yellow River attempting to jump over the Longmen Falls, as the fish that were successful were thought to turn into dragons. In China, this imagery was specifically associated with success on the civil service examinations. While it seems that in Japan images of carp did not have this specific association, the monochromatic "Chinese-style" (kara-e) mode used in this work suggests a broader association with continental Asia.
Physical Description:
This hanging scroll depicts two carp among waves using light ink washes. It demonstrates the Kanō painters' interest in naturalistic depiction of flowers, birds and animals.
Usage Rights:
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