Three Crows in Flight 1807 - 1891

Editor: We’re looking at Shibata Zeshin's "Three Crows in Flight," made sometime between 1807 and 1891. It’s a watercolor and ink drawing on paper. The birds almost seem suspended in a void, each positioned dynamically as if they are captured in mid-motion. What is your interpretation of this piece? Curator: It's more than just crows in flight, isn't it? Zeshin was working in a time of immense socio-political upheaval in Japan, as the country opened up to the West after centuries of isolation. So how might we read these crows not just as birds, but as metaphors? Consider the crow’s historical and cultural significance. In many cultures, it's a liminal figure, a messenger between worlds, an omen, and in some, even a trickster figure associated with marginalized communities. Editor: That's fascinating. I hadn't considered the symbolism beyond the surface. So, you're saying these crows could represent the artist's perspective on the shifting world around him? Curator: Precisely. Think about it: three crows, distinct yet unified in their flight, against an almost barren landscape. Could it be a commentary on the old ways taking flight into the unknown future, the social anxieties, the power dynamics in transition? It invites questions, doesn't it? The choice of medium is relevant here too. How does Zeshin subvert the dominant aesthetic, for example? Editor: Yes, the minimal style and muted tones contrast with the elaborate art that was often commissioned. Thanks for providing some cultural background; it reframed my understanding of the work! Curator: Art always echoes, or pushes against, the societal tides. Always. It has been a thought-provoking dive.