Irissen in volle bloei 1858

Utagawa Kunisada created this woodblock print, “Irises in Full Bloom,” and it now resides in the Rijksmuseum. The scene is dominated by a woman standing before a garden of irises, a symbol deeply rooted in Japanese culture, representing protection from evil. Irises, or "ayame," echo throughout art history. We see them in ancient Minoan frescoes, emblems of royalty, and in medieval tapestries, symbols of faith. Here, Kunisada places the irises in abundance. They are intertwined with a figure whose patterned robes mirror the natural forms around her, reminding us of the ancient motif of the "Master of Animals," where the human and natural worlds are harmoniously intertwined. Such symbols are not static; they evolve. The irises, once purely protective, now, in the context of ukiyo-e, blend with the transient beauty of the floating world. This transformation reflects our collective memory, ever shifting, revealing that art is a living, breathing entity, adapting to the times while carrying echoes of the past.