During the Meiji and Taisho eras, Watanabe Seitei gained fame as a master of bird-and-flower paintings. His exceptional aesthetic sense and meticulous painting technique explored various forms of expressing beauty.

This diptych depicts Shōki, traditionally hung up during the Boys' Festival as a talisman against evil spirits, and carp, symbolizing success and prosperity in the Chinese legend of the Dragon Gate. The inscription indicates that this was created for the Boys' Festival in 1903, when Seitei was 53. The charm of Seitei's characteristic wit is evident in details such as the demon depicted as a ball-like figure that Shōki "plays" with. His artistic expression shows a wide range, as he also displays elegance with the vibrant flowers blooming above the carp.