Artwork
Carp Swimming by Water Weeds
Carp Swimming by Water Weeds is a print by the Romanticist artist Katsushika Hokusai. It dates from 1831 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
About this work
Overview
Carp Swimming by Water Weeds is a woodblock print executed by the Japanese artist Katsushika Hokusai in 1831. The image depicts a solitary carp navigating a deep‑blue aquatic space, its body rendered with intricate brown scale patterns and expansive fins. Green aquatic plants drift nearby, providing a contrasting hue that frames the fish within its watery environment.
Subject & Meaning
The central figure is a carp, a creature traditionally associated with perseverance and transformation in Japanese culture. Its open mouth suggests a moment of exertion, perhaps a gasp for air or a leap, emphasizing the vitality and struggle inherent in the natural world. The surrounding water weeds enhance the sense of a living, dynamic habitat.
Technique & Style
Hokusai employs the ukiyo‑e woodblock technique, using bold, flat colors and simplified forms to convey movement and strength. The contrast between the dark blue background and the lighter brown scales creates depth, while the green foliage is rendered with minimal detail, allowing the carp to dominate the composition.
History & Provenance
Created toward the end of Hokusai’s prolific career, the print entered the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art, where it remains on view. Its acquisition reflects the museum’s commitment to representing Japanese printmaking within a broader narrative of 19th‑century art.
Artist & collection
Artist
Katsushika Hokusai spent his life in Edo, now Tokyo, where he drew and carved prints for a living.
