Mandarin Ducks and Red Plum
Dateca. 1900
Maker
Watanabe Shotei
Japanese, 1851 - 1918
Label TextIn this pair of hanging scrolls, the artist has successfully conveyed a sense of space and movement using varying brush techniques and materials. On the right is a pair of mandarin ducks, an emblem of marital fidelity and bliss. The pair huddle together below a blossoming red plum tree branch, which is painted in exquisite detail. On the left, two carp swim underneath floating water-plants. These Asian fish have long been associated with perseverance and strength for their ability to swim against the current. Shotei provides a sense of the water’s clarity by skillful shading and delicate use of ink wash.
Object number97.71.1
Exhibition HistorySeattle, Washington, Seattle Art Museum, "A Sack Full of Tigers: Diffusion and Diversity in Japanese Painting of the 19th Century Diffusion and Diversity in Japanese Painting", December 6, 1997 - November 15, 1998Credit LineGift of Griffith and Patricia Way
DimensionsOverall (incl. endknobs): 88 × 23 15/16 in. (223.5 × 60.8 cm)
Image: 48 9/16 × 15 13/16 in. (123.3 × 40.1 cm)
MediumColor on silk
Chinese
first half 19th century
Object number: 33.1136
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