Hello, this item is a framed Japanese ink painting titled Koi under a Pine Branch, attributed to the Maruyama-Shijō school style, specifically linked to Maruyama Ōkyo (1733–1795), a key figure in Edo-period Japanese painting. The composition, featuring koi fish beneath a pine branch, exemplifies Ōkyo’s blending of naturalistic observation with traditional Japanese aesthetics. The dimensions are approximately 13 x 19 inches, and the mounting suggests mid-20th-century framing. While the brushwork appears precise and balanced, the overall appearance and paper aging suggest it may be a reproduction or studio work rather than an original by Ōkyo himself, who produced many scrolls and albums rather than framed pieces like this. The note about its provenance from the 1950s supports the possibility of a quality reprint or studio replica rather than an Edo-period original.

Considering Maruyama Ōkyo’s original works are held in major museum collections and command very high market values, authenticating such a piece requires detailed material analysis. This would involve checking for hand-painted brushstrokes under magnification, identifying the type of paper (washi or otherwise), assessing ink absorption patterns, and examining any signature or seal present. A genuine Edo-period original would show clear age-consistent craquelure and ink fading, whereas a 20th-century reproduction would show flatness and uniformity of ink. Based on the visible images and frame, I would estimate the market value of this framed work, if confirmed as a mid-20th-century reproduction or studio piece, at approximately $300–500 USD.