Object Details
Artist
Kuroda Toko 黒田稲皐 (1785-1846)
Signatures
Signature reads: "Painted by Toko".
Marks
Seal reads "Bun-sho".
Label
Kuroda Toko was a samurai from Tottori who moved to Edo after studying with the official painter to the daimyo of his native region. Toko's teacher, Hijikata Torei (1735-1807), had studied in Kyoto with Maruyama Okyo (1733-95), who had created an influential style of painting from his study of Chinese, Japanese, and European art. Torei had also studied the realistic painting of natural subjects by Ming- and Qing-dynasty Chinese artists. The realism of Toko's ink carp swimming underwater and viewed from above reflects this heritage from his teacher. Blue flowers emerging from the pool heighten the effect and are also decorative.
Provenance
To 1896
Yamanaka & Company, New York to 1896 [1]
From 1896 to 1919
Charles Lang Freer (1854-1919), purchased from Yamanaka & Company in 1896 [2]
From 1920
Freer Gallery of Art, gift of Charles Lang Freer in 1920 [3]
Notes:
[1] Undated folder sheet note. See Original Kakemono List, L. 70, pg. 15, Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Archives.
[2] See note 1.
[3] The original deed of Charles Lang Freer's gift was signed in 1906. The collection was received in 1920 upon the completion of the Freer Gallery.
Collection
Freer Gallery of Art Collection
Exhibition History
Japanese Art from the Collection (October 26, 2024 - ongoing)
Artists of Edo (November 19, 2005 to May 29, 2006)
Previous custodian or owner
Yamanaka and Co. 山中商会 (1917-1965) (C.L. Freer source)
Charles Lang Freer (1854-1919)
Credit Line
Gift of Charles Lang Freer
Date
early 19th century
Period
Edo period
Accession Number
F1896.92
Restrictions & Rights
CC0
Type
Painting
Medium
Ink and color on silk
Dimensions
H x W: 44.9 x 85.8 cm (17 11/16 x 33 3/4 in)
Origin
Japan
Related Online Resources
Google Arts & Culture
See more items in
National Museum of Asian Art
Data Source
National Museum of Asian Art
Topic
Edo period (1615 - 1868)
carp
Japan
kakemono
Japanese Art
Charles Lang Freer collection
Link to Original Record
Record ID
fsg_F1896.92