Art Institute of Chicago

School of Fish

Soga Shōhaku 曾我 蕭白 (Japanese, 1730–1781)

Date

Mid- to late 18th century

Medium

Hanging scroll; ink on paper

Culture

Japan

Department

Arts of Asia

Institution

Art Institute of Chicago

Soga Shōhaku used a wide format here to depict a school of salmon swimming along the current of a stream or river, with the fish looping in front of the viewer before heading off into the distance. The farther away they appear to be, the more abbreviated they become, enhancing the sense of their speed. In the 18th century, Japanese artists increasingly relied on shasei (sketches) drawn from direct observation to conceive their compositions. They also began to use shasei as the basis for large-scale works such as screens, sliding doors, and hanging scrolls like this one.

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