Camellia 

This print, "Camellia," by Shibata Zeshin, presents a delicate rendering of the camellia flower. It is a symbol deeply rooted in Japanese culture. The camellia, or "tsubaki," as it's known in Japan, is revered, yet carries a duality. Admired for its beauty and resilience, blooming even in winter, it's also associated with mortality because the flower head often falls off in one piece. The single, sudden drop evokes a sense of noble sacrifice, reminiscent of a samurai's honorable death. Interestingly, this motif of a detached bloom echoes in funerary rites across cultures, from ancient Greece, where wreaths symbolized eternal life, to Victorian mourning jewelry incorporating hair. In each instance, these symbols serve as potent reminders of life’s fleeting nature, engaging our collective memory and subconscious understanding of mortality. The camellia quietly conveys powerful emotions, bridging cultural expressions of life, death, and renewal.