Details

The catfish's elongated body and prominent barbels provide the foundation for a striking composition. Ohno emphasizes the creature's sinuous form, allowing it to move fluidly across the picture plane. Rich browns, slate grays, and muted olive tones reinforce the fish's association with riverbeds and still waters, while subtle modeling gives weight and volume to the body.

The print reveals a heightened interest in texture. Fine carving and carefully layered pigments create a convincing impression of the catfish's smooth skin, contrasting with the more heavily scaled species found elsewhere in the series. The simplicity of the design underscores the artist's confidence in the power of observation.

Connoisseur's Note

Few fish occupy a more prominent place in Japanese folklore than the namazu. According to popular belief, a giant catfish dwelling beneath the earth was responsible for earthquakes when it stirred from its resting place. The creature became a familiar subject in popular prints following the great earthquakes of the Edo period.

Ohno's treatment avoids overt reference to folklore, presenting the fish as a living species rather than a mythical force. Yet the cultural associations remain impossible to ignore, lending the image a resonance that extends well beyond natural history illustration.