Page from Hagoromo (Feathered Robe) c. 1984 - 1986

Curator: Before us is a print titled "Page from Hagoromo (Feathered Robe)" by Matsubara Naoko, housed here at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: The color palette feels both soothing and unsettling—a visual discord. The geometric structure is almost brutalist, yet softened by organic motifs. Curator: Hagoromo is a popular Noh drama about a fisherman who finds a celestial maiden's robe, without which she cannot return to heaven. It deals with themes of loss and redemption, but also beauty. Editor: The blue panel, with its dense pattern, seems to contain a forest, contrasting with the airy, cloud-like forms in the green. Is the green a sort of paradise, then, threatened by the earthly? Curator: Perhaps. The imagery certainly supports that reading. The robe itself is a potent symbol of transformation and transcendence, common in many cultures. Editor: I find the stark simplicity of the print method fascinating. It reduces the complexities of the story to fundamental shapes and hues. Curator: Indeed, it's a striking reminder of how visual simplicity can convey profound cultural narratives. Editor: An interesting reminder that even the most angular can hold a dream.