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

Editor: This red woodblock print is titled "Page from Hagoromo (Feathered Robe)" by Matsubara Naoko. The dancer's gesture is so dynamic and her expression serene. What symbols do you see at play here? Curator: The red is potent. In many cultures, it signifies vitality, passion, and spiritual power. Consider the Hagoromo legend itself; the celestial being descends, dances, and returns to the heavens, leaving behind a sense of longing. Does the red perhaps symbolize that ephemeral divine presence? Editor: That's fascinating. So the color, along with the title, creates a connection to the divine and a sense of something just out of reach? Curator: Precisely. And the flowing lines of the robe and the dancer's movement, all contribute to a visual language that speaks of transcendence, loss, and the enduring power of myth. Editor: I never would have considered that. Thanks! Curator: My pleasure!