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

Curator: Here we have Matsubara Naoko’s woodcut print, "Page from Hagoromo (Feathered Robe)," housed here at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It feels light, almost weightless, like a whisper. The colors are so vibrant, but there's also a sense of serene detachment. Curator: The title is inspired by a classic Noh play where a fisherman finds a celestial maiden's robe of feathers. Editor: Ah, that explains the abstracted, flowing forms. I can almost see her descending from the heavens, the robe billowing around her. I love the tension between the rigid woodcut lines and the ethereal subject matter. Curator: Woodblock printing was a crucial part of disseminating knowledge and art to the masses during the Edo period. Matsubara reinterprets this heritage, connecting it to contemporary concerns. Editor: It’s funny, I initially saw a blossoming tree, but now with the Noh context, the design shifts. It’s less earthly, more spiritual. Art makes you rethink everything, doesn't it? Curator: Indeed. This piece acts as a bridge between tradition and modernity.