Two Koi Carp in Water

Name: Two Koi Carp in Water
Brand: Mei Harutaka
SKU: 6171
Price: 290.00 EUR
Availability: InStock

Kakemono, unique work, 123 x 62 cm

Product number: 6171

Height 123 cm
Width 62 cm
Item Type Kakemono
Jikusaki Bone
Material Honshi Paper
Period of Creation Meiji (1868–1912)
Technique Hand-Painted
Unique Work Yes

Signature / Stamp:

Mei Harutaka

€290.00

Available, delivery time: 1-3 Days

Description

One dark and one brightly orange koi swim closely side by side through clear water, their scales individually rendered with the finest brushstrokes. The contrast between the restrained coloring of one fish and the vivid orange of the other brings movement and vitality to the tranquil composition.

In Japan, koi are regarded as a symbol of perseverance, luck, and the successful handling of life's adversities – a meaning derived from the legend according to which a koi that climbs a waterfall transforms into a dragon. The image of two koi swimming together also stands for harmony and partnership.

The work bears the signature and seal of Mei Harutaka and was created in the Meiji period. Painted on paper and fitted with a jikusaki made of bone, this hand-painted unique work brings the quiet symbolic power of the koi into any living space.

Frequently asked

Does this work carry a seal or signature?

Yes, this piece carries the signature or seal of Mei Harutaka

When was the work created?

Based on the previous owners' information and the condition of the object we place it broadly in the Meiji (1868–1912) period, but cannot give a precise date.

Is this genuine craftsmanship?

Yes, this piece is a genuine handcrafted original that exists only once.

Why does the date of creation sometimes not match the artist's dates

Because the two pieces of information speak about different things: the period designation describes the object – support, colors, condition – while the signature reflects which name appears on the painting. In most cases there is no attempt at deception behind this, but rather Japanese painting training: copying from workshop models was the curriculum for centuries, an utsushi is regarded as a bow to the teacher, workshops signed with the master's name, and artist names were passed down within a school. Such a hanging scroll is therefore not a forgery, but a hand-painted one-of-a-kind that continues the formal language of its school – just not the work of the famous name, and priced accordingly. We explain this in detail in the guide Why does a kakemono often bear the signature of an artist long deceased?.