The Cicada Shell (Utsusemi), Illustration to Chapter 3 of the Tale of Genji (Genji monogatari) c. mid 17th century

Editor: This is "The Cicada Shell," an illustration to Chapter 3 of the Tale of Genji, in the manner of Tosa Mitsuyoshi. I'm struck by the gold leaf and how it creates a dreamlike atmosphere. What symbols do you see at play here? Curator: The cicada, or utsusemi, speaks volumes. Its discarded shell represents deception and, more profoundly, the ephemeral nature of beauty and life. Notice how the women are framed by architectural elements and garden foliage. Editor: So, the garden and architecture create a stage for human drama? Curator: Precisely. The artist uses the garden to suggest the fleeting nature of connection and the constructed nature of identity within the tale. What does it evoke in you? Editor: I guess it reminds me that what we see on the surface might not be the whole story. Curator: Indeed. Symbols offer layers of meaning, echoing through time.