Koichi Sakamoto - 青い湖 (Blue Lake)

A fabulous print by Koichi Sakamoto: 青い湖 (Blue Lake). Two amago trout (アマゴ) - Japan’s red-spotted mountain salmon - swim through dark blue waters, their pale bodies illuminated by shifting surface light. A shadowy fish lurks in the background, adding depth and tension to the composition. The distinct spotted markings of the amago stand out against the cool, layered background - a clear and beautifully balanced image rooted in Japan’s mountain lakes and streams. 🐟💧

• Year & Edition: c. late 1970s/80s · Artist Proof (épreuve d’artiste).
• Medium: Etching & Aquatint.
  
• Dimensions: Sheet H: 37.00 cm × W: 48.50 cm; Image H: 25.75 cm × W: 36.00 cm.
  
• Condition: Beautiful condition. Paper clean & crisp; well stored.
  
• Notes: The amago (アマゴ) is a freshwater trout native to central and western Japan, identified by its red spots and preference for cold inland waters. This print captures its form in clear detail, with the fish shown in mid-swim beneath reflective surface patterns.

About the Artist

Koichi Sakamoto (b.1932, Utsunomiya) is a Japanese printmaker known for his fine etchings & mezzotints depicting rural homes, birds, and quiet seasonal landscapes. A longtime exhibitor with the Japan Print Association and Shunyōkai, his postwar works are held in major museum collections in Japan and abroad. His snowbound villages and delicate natural subjects evoke a deep sense of stillness & reflection. [ ← View All Works by Koichi Sakamoto]