Kraanvogel vliegend bij rode maan 1893 - 1899

Curator: The work before us, dating roughly from 1893-1899, is entitled "Crane Flying by Red Moon," rendered delicately with watercolor on toned paper by Kano Tsunenobu. Editor: There’s a starkness here. That aged paper lends a kind of melancholic atmosphere to what would otherwise be a joyful scene with the crane in flight. Curator: Consider how cranes in Japanese art symbolize longevity, good fortune, and marital fidelity. Positioned before the "red moon," which suggests specific symbolic weights itself. What feelings does that elicit for you? Editor: That combination hints at the artist’s command over materiality and the context in which they are displayed, too, of course. Look how Tsunenobu deploys those pastel watercolors on the textured, probably hand-made paper. Curator: Absolutely. Notice how the materials almost dictate the softness of the image, reinforcing that sense of quiet contemplation, that speaks to the viewer with symbolism deeply rooted in the promise of auspicious blessing. Editor: The artist certainly makes material choices to work with, and even against, those existing social and aesthetic norms of his era. It begs the question what Tsunenobu specifically intends by utilizing mass-produced toned paper and relatively easily produced watercolour— is this subverting elite art traditions? Curator: The artist crafts the cultural symbolism within an ethereal space between heaven and earth with great finesse. I find its lasting appeal comes from the way those hopes are so eloquently visually expressed and emotionally communicated. Editor: I see in those delicate layers of watercolor the labor and resources poured into making meaning with readily available mediums. Curator: A meaningful duality is forged that resonates still today, wouldn't you agree? Editor: Without a doubt, it leaves you with a feeling of deep appreciation for craftsmanship as well as insight into artistic expression.