Moon and Smoke (EnchÅ« no tsuki), from the series One Hundred Aspects of the Moon (Tsuki hyaku sugata) c. 1886

Curator: Tsukioka Yoshitoshi's print, "Moon and Smoke" from his series "One Hundred Aspects of the Moon," presents a figure against a backdrop of stylized flames. The print, presently held at the Harvard Art Museums, employs a striking composition. Editor: It feels almost apocalyptic. The high contrast of the figure's clothing against the fire creates a sense of unease, heightened by the obscured faces in the background. Curator: The figure, likely a fireman, carries a geometric lantern—a cube topped by a disc. The artist plays with shape and form, juxtaposing the rigid structure of the lantern with the organic forms of the smoke and flames. Editor: The cube then becomes a symbol perhaps of the artificial trying to contain the natural chaos of the fire, or even the chaos of life? The moon, doubled, hangs above, serene and indifferent to the drama below. This juxtaposition tells quite a tale, doesn't it? Curator: Indeed, a tale rendered beautifully through careful arrangement of line and form. Editor: A potent reminder that symbols speak even when words fail us.