Narcissus and lacquer box c. 1820s - 1830s

Mori Shunkei painted “Narcissus and Lacquer Box” with ink and color on paper. The narcissus, or daffodil, is a symbol of rebirth and renewal, deeply tied to the cyclical nature of life. Throughout history, flowers have served as powerful symbols of both life and death. Remember Persephone’s abduction, which began with her picking a narcissus flower, symbolizing her descent into the underworld. Here, the lacquer box may appear as a vessel, perhaps for cosmetics or incense, but also reminds us of ancient reliquaries, containers that hold sacred objects or relics of the dead. The narcissus and the box together evoke a sense of the ephemeral beauty of life and the underlying presence of mortality, capturing a poignant, universal emotional experience. Both the blossom and container carry with them the weight of generations of human experience, surfacing into our conscious awareness. This delicate balance between beauty and mortality touches upon the collective human psyche, resonating across cultures and epochs.