Twee kraaien zittend op een tak van een bloeiende pruimenboom bij ondergaande zon 1865 - 1875

This Japanese woodblock print presents two crows perched on a plum tree, rendered by Kawanabe Kyōsai. The crow, often a harbinger of ill fortune, sits against a backdrop of a setting sun. The plum blossoms, a sign of resilience and renewal, offer a counterpoint. These symbols of death and rebirth, darkness and light, echo in the traditions of ancient Greece. Think of Apollo’s sacred crow against the budding laurel tree, a potent visual metaphor for the cyclical nature of existence. The composition's stark contrast evokes the deep, subconscious anxieties. The symbolism of crows has transformed through history, yet their association with the liminal spaces between life and death persists. This primal iconography engages our emotions, tapping into a collective memory. These emotional symbols are a language in themselves, speaking to our deepest fears and hopes.