The artwork titled “Sakata Kintoki struggling with a Huge Carp in a Waterfall” is a woodcut created by Utagawa Kuniyoshi in 1836. It belongs to the Ukiyo-e art movement and falls under the genre of mythological painting. This piece is currently housed in the Blackburn Museum and Art Gallery in Blackburn, UK.
The artwork vividly depicts the legendary figure Sakata Kintoki, also known as Kintaro, engaged in a fierce struggle with a colossal carp amidst a dynamic waterfall setting. Kintoki, portrayed as a muscular, red-skinned figure, grips the enormous carp with determination, while the water cascades around them, creating a powerful and tumultuous backdrop. The scene is rich with intense colors and meticulous details, reflecting the dramatic and mythological nature of the subject matter. Kuniyoshi’s masterful use of lines and shading captures the movement and energy of both the human and the fish, emphasizing the epic confrontation. The waterfall, illustrated with swift strokes and splashes, adds to the intensity and grandeur of the scene, drawing the viewer into the mythological struggle depicted in this classic Ukiyo-e woodcut.
