Hanasaki Jiji 1880 - 1890

Curator: Let's delve into "Hanasaki Jiji," a work from around 1880-1890 currently held at the Rijksmuseum, originating from an anonymous artist. Editor: My immediate reaction is to its strong linear structure. The thick, intertwining branches of the tree dominate, leading my eye directly to the figure perched precariously. Curator: Indeed, consider the Japanese folktale from which this illustration derives. "Hanasaki Jiji," meaning "The Old Man Who Makes Flowers Bloom," reflects deep-seated cultural values. The elderly figure is depicted scattering what appear to be ashes from a tree. This alludes to themes of age, respect for elders, and the cyclical nature of life—rebirth and beauty arising even from what seems like decay. This narrative reflects on attitudes towards aging in Japanese society during the late 19th century. Editor: I find myself captivated by the way the artist employed line and wash to create a textured surface on what appears to be aged paper. The watercolour bleed gives a dream-like quality. The colour palette is also interesting: a wash of muted blues, browns, and greens give an aged, ethereal quality. It speaks to a refined, almost understated visual language. Curator: I think that we could examine how the artist utilizes their illustrative work as a social commentary to highlight those in positions of marginality within Japan’s economic structure at the turn of the century. Editor: It seems this illustration could also stand on its own merit through its semiotic arrangement of representational features. For instance, one could make a reading on the tree branch as an agent for both the figure, and our eye through their connection to each other in the design. Curator: In essence, this work provides multiple interpretive pathways: one rooted in aesthetics and composition and another situated in culture, labor and political positionality. It is work with important visual impact. Editor: Exactly, and I suppose that the genius resides in its structural capacity for this symbolic tension.