Text from the old book (About this katagami pattern): - Fishes are also used extensively by designers, and Plate LVI. gives an instance of the way in which a Japanese artist has made them the leading motive of a repeated pattern; the pliable nature of the average fish gives opportunity for turning it into a great variety of graceful flowing curves, which will combine very easily with the conventional representations of water with which fishes are generally associated. In this design the fish is made to follow the general outline of the circle, and the water is suggested by graceful flowing curves that go very successfully with the contrasting circular line of the fish: in this case the designer has evidently intended to indicate rough tumbling water, and the ends of the wave lines provide a very effective feature by the hint which is given of the breaking of the wave into spray and bubbles. There is a very fine sense of rhythmical movement in all the parts, and the design hangs together with perfect ease and completeness.
