Collectors of fish art will like this one — a Chinese scroll painting with genuine charm. The fish has always been a favorite subject, and you can see why — it carries the whole scroll. From a distance it's one image; up close it's koi and abstract, each worth a look on its own.
Classical handling shows in every stroke — ink and pale washes in the literati manner. Like much classical Chinese art, it carries a wish inside the image — fish are a pun on surplus — the old wish for plenty, year after year. Restraint is everywhere; nothing is pushed too far. Koi shows exactly as much as needed, and no more. The silk mounting is its frame, in effect — traditional, complete, and ready for the wall. There is a calm to it that photographs struggle to capture; it wants to be seen in person.
As a housewarming gift for someone who loves Chinese brushwork, it is hard to go wrong. If you collect fish pieces, this one earns its place. It is a fine example of koi and abstract Chinese painting, the kind of piece that grows on you.
