Shukou Okamoto studied Japanese-style painting under Kansetsu Hashimoto, who was a master of animal painting. Then, he became known as an expert at painting carp. The expression of a carp’s characteristic varies in each of his artworks. We can feel his keen observation and rich power of expression from his work.

There are three carp swimming among the leaves of beautiful water lilies in this painting. The “nishikigoi” (colored carp) is beautiful, and the black carp are very sober and calm. In this work, their black color harmonizes especially with the calm background color. Shukou Okamoto makes us feel the carp’s liveliness by the slight depiction of the wavelets. This delicate expression is typical of him, and his sense is very cool.