Octopus and Fish, Jakuchu

This painting from Colorful Realm of Living Beings depicts a variety of ocean life. Jakuchu is showing us the vibrant diversity of the sea. He uses a two dimensional perspective, arranging each fish separately at at equal depth so that each one can be studied. He also shows only the side view, and indulges in the bright reds, pinks, and blues. It is clear from these stylistic choices, especially when paired with the image of a real fish market, that Jakuchu was basing his painting on his careful observation of real fish. Furthermore, we can see the limits of this observation when we take into account the natural context. Compared with the intricate scales and fine brush strokes on the fish themselves, the background is entirely an afterthought. The plants in the water are not attached to any geological formation, and are instead more of a simple context clue so that the view can understand that we are meant to be imagining the fish alive and underwater. Jakuchu's aims here are to capture each creatures' essence and form, not to capture the experience of seeing a living ocean community underwater.

Oliver Jue