Snake and lizard by a bush 1788

This diptych of woodblock prints depicts a snake and a lizard amidst lush foliage, created by Kitagawa Utamaro in Japan during the late 18th century. Here we see ancient symbols interacting. The snake, a potent emblem, appears across cultures from the serpent in the Garden of Eden to the Ouroboros, endlessly devouring its own tail. Snakes embody cyclical life and death, as powerful symbols of primal energy and instinct. Beside it, the lizard, often a symbol of adaptation and regeneration, reminds one of nature's persistent ability to renew itself. Consider the emotional undercurrent: the viewer is drawn into the subtle drama of predator and prey. This interaction stirs subconscious recognition of our own instincts and the primal energies that continue to shape our perceptions. These symbols are not static; they evolve, carrying traces of the past into the present, forever intertwining with human experience.