Carp

Asia, Japan

This painting is one of several that carry an inscription by Musen Jōzen and a painting by Ito Jakuchu. The two men evidently were long-time collaborators. Jōzen’s inscription on this painting alludes to an ancient Chinese myth that if a carp could successful jump over the Yellow River’s Longmen Falls it will be transformed into a dragon.

A close examination of the carp painting reveals one of Jakuchu’s major painterly innovations, the artist’s masterly handling of the smoky gray wash. Here it is used to depict the fish’s scales. Jakuchu first experimented with this technique in the 1760s and he used it throughout his career. The effect was achieved by allowing the ink to sink into the paper in a controlled manner that created a faint gray outline to form between individual brushstrokes. Other typical Jakuchu techniques are the claw-like brushstrokes used to depict the waves that swirl around the body of the fish.

Ito Jakuchu was one of the most important 18th century painters in the so-called Eccentric school. His works are much sought after and this would be the first authentic example of his oeuvre in the collection.