Deer and Bat c. early 19th century

This hanging scroll painting, Deer and Bat, was created by Yokoi Kinkoku in the late 18th or early 19th century. Notice the deer gazing upwards towards a bat in flight, a common pairing in East Asian art. The deer, often associated with longevity and prosperity, meets the bat, a symbol of happiness and good fortune. Together, they create a rebus, a visual pun, for luck and long life, reflecting deep-seated cultural desires for health and wealth. This symbolic language echoes through the ages, appearing in various forms across different cultures. Think of the caduceus, where snakes intertwine, embodying healing and medicine. The symbolism has roots in ancient myths and rituals. These symbols are not static; they evolve, accumulating layers of meaning as they are reinterpreted across time. The emotional resonance lies in their ability to tap into collective hopes. These images persist, not linearly, but cyclically, constantly resurfacing, evolving, and acquiring new significance in different historical contexts.