Unknown fish 1
by Ohno Bakufu
- Medium:
- Woodblock print
- Source:
- Japanese Art Open Database
- Image courtesy of
- Japanese Art Open Database
Description
Provisionally titled 'Unknown Fish 1,' this Ohno Bakufu woodblock print represents a species from his natural history output that has not been definitively identified in the collection records. The designation acknowledges the limits of cataloguing a large-scale series without access to complete Japanese title documentation. Ohno's fish series covered an extensive range of Japanese marine fauna, and the variety of species depicted—from large pelagic fish such as tuna and yellowtail to smaller inshore and rockfish species—means that some subjects are immediately recognizable while others require specialist ichthyological knowledge for identification. The technical execution of the print would reflect the production standards of the series regardless of subject: professionally cut cherry-wood blocks, careful registration, graduated bokashi for volumetric modeling, and printing on dampened washi to allow the pigments to penetrate the paper surface. The documentary value of the print is independent of its current identification status.
More Prints by Ohno Bakufu
More Animals Prints

Snake Charmers (Hebizukai)
Hebizukai
1932
Color woodblock print; oban

Hoshifuri Pine at Zen'yoji Temple in Edogawa (Edogawa-ku Zen'yoji Hoshifuri matsu), from the series "One Hundred Views of Great Tokyo in the Showa Era (Showa dai Tokyo fukei hyaku zue hanga)"
1935
Color woodblock print; oban

Drawing for Rabbit and Boy
1964
Acrylic paint and oil pastel with oiled charcoal and ink over an ink and graphite underdrawing on paper

Rabbit and Boy
1964
Color lithograph with relief block and hand coloring; edition 35/36
Featured in Collections
Curated cross-cuts that include this print.
Frequently Asked Questions
Unknown fish 1 was created by Ohno Bakufu (大野麦風).
Unknown fish 1 depicts animals.



