A Length of Indigo Dyed Katazome: Large Scale Carp Jumping a Waterfall

late nineteenth, early twentieth century
31 1/2" x 13 1/4", 80 cm x 33.5 cm

This length of indigo dyed katazome cotton shows a beautifully pictorial, large repeat of finely detailed carp in the act of swimming--or jumping--against the current of a river or waterfall.

This image is based on a Chinese myth that says that if a carp has the courage and strength to swim against and leap high enough onto a mythical waterfall they will enter the "dragon's gate" and thus be transformed from a bottom feeding fish into a magnificent and glorious dragon.

This myth was carried over to Japan and it is sometimes, but not often, depicted on textiles. This is a particularly nice depiction of this fabled story.

The indigo is soft in tone and is slightly faded. The pattern was stenciled on both sides of the cloth which was intended to create a crisp image but in this case the back and front registration of the stencils is slightly off so the edges of the design are a bit soft and blurred.

An exceedingly good and rare length of katazome cotton bearing a very nice sentiment and a beautifully drawn image.

Recommended.