Fish Merchant Carrying Yellowtails on Horseback 1814

Tani Bunchō painted "Fish Merchant Carrying Yellowtails on Horseback" using ink and color on paper. The horse, burdened with its slippery cargo, becomes a powerful symbol, evoking the universal motif of the animal as a beast of burden, mirroring human toil and resilience. We see echoes of this motif across cultures, from ancient Roman mosaics depicting horses in processions to medieval tapestries showing knights on warhorses. The fish, too, carries its weight of symbolism, representing abundance, prosperity, and the sustenance of life. The contrast of the horse's earthly strength with the fish's association with water creates a dynamic tension. The image pulls at our subconscious, touching deep-seated feelings about labor, sustenance, and the complex relationship between humanity and the natural world. Like a recurring dream, the fish-laden horse appears and reappears throughout art history. Its image shifts in meaning, yet remains tied to fundamental human experiences.