Katsushika HOKUSAI (1760-1849)

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An original painting, sumi and light colour on paper, 10 x 17.5 in; 25.5 x 44.5 cm. Shows a right-eye karei fish (a flounder or flatfish) with unfurled fern fronds. Hokusai has very cleverly positioned the fronds so they represent surf. This is a popular fish in Japan simmered with ginger, soy sauce, sake and mirin. Hokusai used the same fish on an aizuri chuban print published 1831 and it also appears in vol. 2 of his Manga books. Signed Gakyo rojin Manji hitsu yowai hachijuroku sai, “Brush of Manji, old man crazy to paint aged eighty-six years.”

Seal Katsushika. Minor creasing and staining, otherwise good condition.

Status: Sold