Carp Swiming En Face | Yale University Art Gallery

1850–75

丸山應文鯉の正面図絹本着色掛幅江戸時代後期·明治期初期

The fifth head of the Maruyama line of painters, Maruyama Ōbun is known for his landscapes and flower-and-bird paintings, executed in a naturalistic style. His creativity and skill are evident in this unusual rendering of a black koi, or carp, swimming straight toward the viewer. Whereas traditionally the fish was shown either from the side or from a bird's-eye view, here it confronts the audience. With this decision, Ōbun seems to challenge the theme of success long associated with the subject: rather than journeying upstream, the black magoi carp advances like a submarine.

Medium: Hanging scroll, ink and light color on silk
Dimensions: without mounting: 39 15/16 × 10 7/8 in. (101.5 × 27.6 cm)
with mounting: 69 1/8 × 11 3/4 in. (175.5 × 29.8 cm)
with rollers: 13 9/16 in. (34.5 cm)
Credit Line: Gift of Rosemarie and Leighton R. Longhi, B.A. 1967
Accession Number: 2009.72.4
Geography: Japan
Culture: Japanese
Period: Edo period (1615–1868)
Classification: Paintings
Disclaimer: Note: This electronic record was created from historic documentation that does not necessarily reflect the Yale University Art Gallery’s complete or current knowledge about the object. Review and updating of records is ongoing.

Provenance

Leighton R. Longhi, and Rosemarie Longhi, New York; gift in 2009 to the Yale University Art Gallery, New Haven, Conn.

Bibliography

"Acquisitions 2009," in "State of the Art: Contemporary Sculpture," special issue, Yale University Art Gallery Bulletin (2009), 152

Object copyright

No Copyright - United States

Additional information

Object/Work type

animal art, hanging scrolls

Subject

fish (animals) swimming

Marks

Chūshitsu (仲質)\r\nŌbun (?) (応文)

Signed

Ōbun sha (応文写)

Technical metadata and APIs

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