Daily Ramble 10 - TWO JAPANESE PRINTS

March 29, 2020

TWO JAPANESE PRINTS

At some point in the 1960s I think, I saw a newspaper ad that a department store (maybe Stern's) was closing and selling Japanese prints for ten dollars each. I had twenty dollars to spend. In the store I went through two cardboard boxes, probably a few hundred prints, and agonized over my selection. I still remember one I would have liked to buy, showing a building under construction with scores of workers climbing on bamboo scaffolding. In any event, after much deliberation, I chose the two shown below. I am happy to say they still give me great satisfaction about forty-five years later from their place of honor on the wall of the bathroom.

Over the years I have made some attempt to find out more about them to no avail. I just tried dropping #1 and #2 into Google image search and nothing came back.

Anyway, here is why I chose these precious two (shown below in large photos):

#1

#2

#1 looks like the right half of a diptych. On the left there's a hint of land with a tree and some sort of structure on it - possibly a dock or pavilion. I found the idea of fish (koi and others - catfish?) and tadpoles with human faces novel and fascinating. For more about koi see, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Koi

Although you can't see it in the photo (and difficult to see even up close) some of the fish have lines embossed in the paper in the gill and fin area to give them dimensionality - a really impressive printing subtlety). The general gracefulness of the work enchanted me. I was also intrigued by the varied patterns on the bodies of the fish, speculating they might perhaps be associated with particular family crests. I thought the fish might have the faces of real people, possibly in government or the arts.  There are tons of Japanese prints on fish themes (some of them masterpieces) but I have not found anything like this one with human faces on many fish.

The carp has a status in Japanese culture far more revered than gefilte fish. According to the National Gallery's article on animals in Japanese art https://www.nga.gov/features/life-of-animals-in-japanese-art.html

Ancient Asian lore tells of carp that fight their way upstream against the rapid currents of the Yellow River, one of the longest and most dangerous in China. Along the way, they must leap the falls called the Dragon Gate. The few that succeed are transformed into mighty dragons. Carp thus came to represent strength and perseverance, and in Japan “carp leaping the waterfall” symbolizes success in life, particularly in the military. Japanese warriors ate carp before battles and at festivals celebrating victories so that they could absorb the heroic qualities associated with these fish.

#2 impressed me as a strong evocation of the power of art for this reason: It looks like a person of noble class or a samurai - and the servant on whom he may actually be seated - are both taken aback by the power of the wave the nobleman is painting. The position of the servant is really quite odd and I have found no other example of someone sitting on a servant. I suppose it is possible they were both standing and reached their positions in falling back. The size of the brush is not quite in a position appropriate to the area of the painting it is touching, suggesting to me that he is making a movement backward. In any event the energy and puzzlement of this work continue to  please me. The confusion between illusion and reality is always stimulating.

Perhaps I will spend some more time searching the internet for information about these "priceless" (and apparently unique) bargains.

According to https://www.saving.org/inflation/inflation.php?amount=1&year=1965
The 1965 price of $10 has now become $82.40! And that does not include the sentimental value and the increase in value due to my analysis of their uniqueness, profound meaning and artistic importance.

END