Artwork
Fish and Plants
Fish and Plants is an ink painting by the Nihonga artist Ikeda Keisen. It dates from 1908 and is held in the collection of the Art Institute of Chicago.
About this work
Overview
Fish and Plants is a six-panel screen painting executed in ink, color, and gold on silk. It showcases a diverse array of fish and plants against a gold-dust background.
Subject & Meaning
The work depicts over 30 types of fish and 80 varieties of plant life, rendered with meticulous detail and a touch of humor. The artist's use of whimsical depictions adds a layer of complexity to the painting's naturalistic subject matter.
Technique & Style
The painting is characterized by its formal, large-scale composition and the artist's attention to detail. The gold background and intricate renderings of fish and plants demonstrate the artist's technical skill.
History & Provenance
The work is based on sketches made by Ikeda Keisen's father, indicating a personal connection to the subject matter and a familial influence on the artist's style.
Artist & collection
Artist
Ikeda Keisen painted delicate ink-and-color screens in the late Meiji era, blending gold leaf and silk in a six-panel work like Fish and Plants from 1908.
