Album met honderd vogels van Bairei Possibly 1881 - 1884

Curator: Today we're looking at “Album met honderd vogels van Bairei”, possibly created between 1881 and 1884 by Kōno Bairei. It is a print, categorized within the ukiyo-e tradition, and currently held at the Rijksmuseum. Editor: My initial impression is one of faded elegance. The aged paper and muted colors suggest a piece holding secrets from another era, hinting towards a world teeming with rich avian diversity. Curator: The textual elements, both as script and the material presence of the textiles used in binding, create an interplay between visual and tactile senses. Note the compositional arrangement. Each album appears to be structured and compartmentalized. Editor: Yet, within that structure, one wonders what messages the choice and order of "one hundred birds" were meant to communicate? Bird imagery in Japan often conveys nuanced social commentaries and reflects ideals about harmony and freedom. Were these ideals accessible to all at the time or just to those in power? Curator: Undoubtedly, the selection of one hundred avian species invites contemplation, although, considering Bairei’s broader oeuvre, it seems the formal aspects of composition and tonal range take precedence. It invites analysis into form rather than strict historical interpretation. Editor: But doesn't the decision to compile a visual record—an album—reflect a desire to both classify and represent the natural world? During this period, Japan was rapidly modernizing, a process that had undeniable social and environmental consequences. Could this album also be a commentary on a disappearing world or, alternatively, a promotion of nature to a select few? Curator: These readings are not mutually exclusive. We should recognize that Bairei’s skill in line and his mastery of tonal gradations speak volumes. The materiality itself directs us to question our interaction with art. Editor: I concur. Viewing these volumes provides an avenue to delve into cultural memories encoded in their craft, reminding us that behind every brushstroke and bind, there lies a tapestry of complex narratives waiting to be unraveled.