Fish print, original old Gyotaku

Original old print, made by hand on wenzhou paper (mulberry paper). This work captures the details of the animal using the japanese printmaking technique of gyotaku. Each gyotaku is a unique piece, stamped with my personal stamp. Sent protected in a sturdy tube. Artist-fisherman based in finistère, I am inspired by the japanese technique of gyotaku to make each marine creature a work of art. By line or spearfishing, I catch fish and molluscs, soaking up their natural beauty. Once back, I make sure to find the perfect arrangement for their fins, spines, or tentacles. Then comes the time for inking: my brushes place on these bodies the thin layer of paint which will enhance them. A long work begins: each part of the animal requires different inking depending on its pigmentation, its texture, and the result I wish to obtain. Finally, I come and place a thin sheet of mulberry paper on the painted creature: it is she who will capture the imprint. Gently, I tap the paper so that it soaks up the pigments, then gently remove the sheet. Final gesture, I affix my signature in red ink. In japanese, “gyo” means fish, and “taku” means imprint. My conception of gyotaku is part of a total practice: I design the work from the ocean to the paper. Find our work on facebk: pesket_gyotaku and instagrm: corentin_derrien.