Descending Geese at Katada (Katada rakugan), from an untitled series of Eight Views of Ōmi (Ōmi hakkei) Possibly 1854 - 1859

Editor: This is Murai Fusatane’s “Descending Geese at Katada” from his Eight Views of Omi series. The flocks of geese create such a melancholic mood. What do you see in the symbolism here? Curator: The geese carry immense symbolic weight, don't they? In East Asian art, they often represent autumn, transition, and the fleeting nature of time. Their migratory patterns evoke themes of travel, longing, and return. Consider the cultural memory embedded in this imagery. What emotions do the geese stir in you? Editor: I feel a sense of nostalgia and the passage of time. Curator: Precisely. The artist uses these symbols to tap into a shared cultural understanding. Notice how the placement of the geese directs our gaze. Art becomes a vessel for preserving cultural narratives and emotional experiences. Editor: I’ve never thought about geese as symbolic before! Curator: Seeing the familiar with new eyes helps bridge the past and present.