Two Carp
by Ohara Koson
- Date:
- c. 1928–1930
- Medium:
- Woodblock print, ink and color on paper
- Format:
- Oban
- Dimensions:
- 23.5 × 25 cm
- Publisher:
- Watanabe Shozaburo
- Edition:
- Published by Watanabe Shozaburo
- Source:
- Minneapolis Institute of Art
Description
Two carp — one large, one smaller — move through water in this paired composition, their scales rendered with Koson's careful attention to surface detail and the water's movement around their bodies. Produced around 1928–1930, this print uses the paired subject to explore both individual anatomy and the relationship between two creatures in the same element. The carp's cultural resonance — perseverance, longevity, the aspiration encoded in the Dragon Gate legend — enriches a composition already beautiful in purely formal terms.
More Prints by Ohara Koson
Cat and Goldfish
c. 1928–1930
Woodblock print, ink and color on paper
Heron or Egret
c. 1900–1945
Woodblock print
"Snipes and Reeds," 1926 and "Wild Ducks and Pampas Grass"
Two woodblocks in colors (framed separately)
Magpie with Pink and White Magnolia Blossoms
Shōwa period, circa 1931
Woodblock print in "ōban" format; ink and color on paper
More Fish Prints
Featured in Collections
Curated cross-cuts that include this print.
Frequently Asked Questions
Two Carp was created by Ohara Koson (小原古邨) in c. 1928–1930.
Two Carp was published by Watanabe Shozaburo (c. 1928–1930).
Two Carp depicts fish and animals.
Two Carp measures 23.5 × 25 cm (Oban format).