Koichi Sakamoto - 山女実 (Yamame Trout)

A fabulous print by Koichi Sakamoto: 山女実 (Yamame Trout). Three finely rendered yamame drift through cool, clear waters - their speckled bodies suspended in soft turquoise currents. Known as the “Queen of the Mountain Streams,” the yamame is a rare freshwater trout native to Japan’s highland rivers. Sakamoto’s delicate shading and precise linework highlight the elegance of this elusive fish, while a shadowed form lingers in the background, hinting at the quiet mystery of the stream. 🐟🌊

• Year & Edition: c. late 1970s/80s · Ed. 1/50 (signed, titled & editioned in pencil).
  
• Medium: Etching & Aquatint.
  
• Dimensions: Sheet H: 37.00 cm × W: 49.00 cm; Image H: 25.75 cm × W: 36.00 cm.
  
• Condition: Beautiful condition. Paper clean & crisp; well stored.
  
• Notes: The yamame (山女魚) is celebrated in Japanese folklore and cuisine for its rarity, shimmering skin, and alpine habitat. A small limited edition of 50.

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]