(Kite) Possibly 1864

This image of a kite was created by Kawada Shōryū in nineteenth-century Japan, a period of immense social and cultural change as Japan opened up to the West after centuries of isolation. As we look at this print, with its delicate lines and soft colors, consider the cultural significance of kite-flying. In Japan, it was traditionally a boy's sport, symbolizing aspirations for success and good fortune. Look closely, and you'll see a poem inscribed above the image of the kite. The kite is not merely an object but becomes a vehicle for expressing emotions, dreams, and connections to the natural world. Think about the act of flying a kite—the tension between control and release, the desire to reach new heights, and the vulnerability of being tethered to the earth. This print invites us to reflect on our own aspirations and the forces that shape our identities.