Man Holding a Blowfish / Shijō School Drawing, 19th century

Media: Ink and light colour on ‘India’ paper, laid down, 246 x 145 mm

Artist: Unknown

Date: 19th century

Provenance: Bérès Collection

Depiction of a standing man facing left, holding a blowfish (fugu, 河豚) skewered on a stick. He wears a green patterned kimono, a cloth head wrap (zukin, 頭巾), and wooden clogs (geta, 下駄). His head is slightly turned, and his mouth is open, possibly mid-speech. The brushwork is fluid and confident, with minimal use of colour, primarily green and light flesh tones.
The work is executed in the style of the Shijō school (四条派), which developed in Kyoto in the late 18th century and emphasized naturalistic subjects with expressive brushwork. Artists associated with this school include Matsumura Goshun (松村呉春, 1752–1811), Nagasawa Rosetsu (長沢芦雪, 1754–1799), and Maruyama Ōkyo (円山応挙, 1733–1795). This painting likely follows their tradition of sketching everyday figures and animals in a direct, lively manner.