Two carp 1900 - 1930

Ohara Koson created this image of two carp, with an unknown medium, during a period of significant transformation in Japan. Koson, working through the Meiji and Taisho eras, navigated a complex tension between tradition and modernity. Carp, or koi, are deeply symbolic in Japanese culture, representing perseverance and strength due to their ability to swim upstream. In a rapidly modernizing Japan, these symbols took on new weight. Koson’s work, including this image, sits at an intersection of ukiyo-e traditions and a desire to capture the natural world with a new, almost Western, realism. It’s important to remember that Japan was opening up to the world, grappling with questions of national identity amidst a changing global landscape. Koson’s intimate portrayal of the carp invites us to reflect on themes of resilience, cultural identity, and the negotiations between tradition and progress that defined his era.