Goldfish

A single goldfish trails its elaborate fins through water rendered in translucent washes of color in this shin-hanga print from the late 1920s. Komori Soseki isolates the fish against a minimal background, allowing the viewer to appreciate the flowing calligraphy of its tail and the warm vermillion of its scales. Goldfish were introduced to Japan from China centuries ago and became prized subjects for artists, their ornamental beauty suited to the decorative precision of woodblock printing. Soseki's carver captured the gossamer quality of the fins with lines of extraordinary delicacy, while the printer used layered color impressions to build the fish's luminous body. The result is a small, concentrated study in elegance and color.