Antique Japanese fish study shikishi on silk, Meiji–Taisho

An antique Japanese shikishi featuring a detailed natural study of fish, shrimp, and small marine organisms, painted with ink and mineral pigments on silk. The work shows a blend of classical discipline and observational subtlety: the firm, confident contour of the main fish recalls the linear control associated with traditional academic training, while the gentle washes and separated placement of individual marine forms echo the compositional approach seen in Japanese nature-study albums of the late nineteenth century.

Certain stylistic elements—such as the structured outline and restrained tonal build-up—suggest affinity with the formal rigor found in works shaped by the Kano lineage of brush practice. At the same time, the free arrangement of multiple species on an open field, the soft blue accents, and the focus on small marine creatures show parallels with the natural-study tradition popularized through illustrated albums of the Hokusai circle. These correspondences are stylistic rather than direct attribution, reflecting a broader visual language of the Meiji–Taisho transitional period.

Light age toning and natural patina of the silk contribute to its authentic antique presence.
Approx. size: 24 × 27 cm.
Period: Meiji–Taisho (c. 1900–1920).
Condition: antique, with natural traces of time.

Safe and tracked shipping from Latvia (Riga Gallery of Japanese Art CloudyYokomido).

Style Note
Naturalistic ink study on silk with disciplined contour and album-style washes, showing echoes of both Kano-line precision and the freer marine studies associated with the Hokusai tradition.

For US buyers: this item enters the United States duty-free.