White Roses and Fish in Stream

White Roses and Fish in Stream

Nishiyama Hōen

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

Three fish approach the tip of a rose branch that droops elegantly into a stream. The composition is deftly framed, with the white roses arranged rhythmically from top to bottom. The one rose touching the water and fish form the focal point. Hōen was a student of Matsumura Keibun (1779–1843), and both artists emphasized further the decorative quality and refined descriptive method of their grand masters of the Maruyama-Shijō school, Maruyama Ōkyo (1733–1795) and his elder brother, Matsumura Goshun (1752-1811).

Asian Art

An exhibit at Metropolitan Museum of Art

White Roses and Fish in StreamWhite Roses and Fish in StreamWhite Roses and Fish in StreamWhite Roses and Fish in StreamWhite Roses and Fish in Stream

The Met's collection of Asian art—more than 35,000 objects, ranging in date from the third millennium B.C. to the twenty-first century—is one of the largest and most comprehensive in the world. Each of the many civilizations of Asia is represented by outstanding works, providing an unrivaled experience of the artistic traditions of nearly half the world.