White Bird and Peony, from the series Six Plaques of Birds and Flowers (Kachō gyokuban rokumai no uchi) 

Editor: Here we have "White Bird and Peony" by Hakuki, part of a series of six plaques. It feels very delicate, almost like a fleeting moment captured. What story do you think this image is telling? Curator: Consider the cultural context. Bird-and-flower paintings, or kachōga, were often commissioned for display in homes or temples, reflecting social status and refined taste. How might its presentation in a museum today affect its reception? Editor: That's interesting. So, its original purpose was more about social display rather than pure artistic expression? Curator: Precisely! And notice the framing. It mimics how such paintings were displayed, but also transforms the art into a commodity. Editor: I never thought about how museums change the meaning of art just by displaying it. Thanks! Curator: The politics of display are always at play!