A dynamic composition showing a carp — symbol of perseverance and ambition in Japanese culture — straining upward against a cascade of white water. In Chinese and Japanese legend, a carp that successfully ascends a waterfall transforms into a dragon, and Kyosai renders this moment of heroic effort with his characteristic energy, the fish's scales catching the light as torrents of water churn around it. The bold brushwork and vivid color recall the vigorous ink painting tradition Kyosai absorbed under his teacher Utagawa Kuniyoshi before finding his own unmistakable voice.
Woodblock print
Woodblock print
Woodblock print
Woodblock print
Carp Ascending Falls was created by Kawanabe Kyosai (河鍋暁斎) in late 19th century.
Carp Ascending Falls depicts fish, waterfalls, and rivers & lakes.
