Persimmons Branch and Wasp Nest above a Hedge 1807 - 1868

Curator: This lovely image before us is titled "Persimmons Branch and Wasp Nest above a Hedge," created by Shibata Zeshin, sometime between 1807 and 1868. It resides here at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Editor: My immediate sense? It's poised, even a bit precarious. That wasp nest feels awfully close to those plump persimmons. Someone's tempting fate, or perhaps illustrating a bittersweet harmony. Curator: The composition, featuring elements so close together like that, can be considered symbolic. The persimmon represented longevity, success. However, a wasp's nest in close proximity can represent danger, or challenge. Zeshin presents two states existing together, or in contest, like much in society. Editor: I also see it as capturing a specific, almost voyeuristic moment. It’s a slice of wildness observed from behind the order of that hedge. Does the painting subtly highlight how we define what’s “in” or “out,” "controlled", or "uncontrolled", in life? The viewer might feel some measure of control standing on the 'safe' side of the fence. Curator: An interesting take! While it's difficult to know his exact intent, Shibata Zeshin’s placement certainly elicits such observations. The materials themselves further these observations. Editor: How so? That gold leaf background! So luminous. Then that matte red for the hedge - grounding the image in an earthy, solid reality that opposes the dreamy luster surrounding it. It creates a lovely balance between aspiration and raw existence, doesn't it? Curator: Indeed, Zeshin’s skill with lacquer and use of watercolor achieve depth in the imagery while using fairly conventional color palettes. The Met chose well in preserving this remarkable image. Editor: And I leave here considering those contrasts; the golden possibility, the grounded reality, the sting of the wasp amid the sweetness of the fruit. All buzzing around us. Thanks for highlighting this for us.