Returned to lender The Met accepts temporary loans of art both for short-term exhibitions and for long-term display in its galleries.
Fish and Turtles in Water
Maruyama Ōkyo 円山応挙 Japanese
Not on view
The pale blue water and bright green young pines give this low tea-ceremony screen (furosaki byōbu) a cool and refreshing appearance. Turtles and small fish swim easily together as if engaged in a dance centering on the two carp. Ōkyo painted many pictures of carp and turtles, but in this case they are joined by other types of realistically depicted freshwater fish, such as freshwater minnows (oikawa) and Japanese killifish (medaka). Capturing the natural fluctuations of light, the bright area near the carp varies delicately according to the curving ripples on the water’s surface. Here, in particular, one recognizes Ōkyo’s discerning eye for nature and what may be called the essence of his method of shasei (drawing from nature). The reverse of the screen is mounted with a painting of flowing water on silk intended to show faintly through to the front when lit from behind.
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