Golven brekend tegen de hemel 1907 - 1908

Curator: My first impression is quiet contemplation. The covers have a poetic elegance, each a miniature world unto itself. Editor: Today we're looking at a collection of works entitled "Golven brekend tegen de hemel," or "Waves Crashing Against the Sky". These were created around 1907 and 1908, attributed to Koda Rohan, and residing here at the Rijksmuseum. Each is crafted from a combination of drawing, print, and paper. The ukiyo-e style certainly informs it. Curator: Ukiyo-e really focused on the fleeting world, right? Here it almost feels...preserved. The delicate waves and muted tones of the covers convey such a serene melancholy. Almost a world longing for what’s out of reach. Editor: The themes are fascinating if we look at the socio-historical implications. Consider that Japan in the early 20th century was experiencing rapid modernization, shifting societal values… this could very well be seen as the push and pull of tradition versus modernity. Even the waves could represent disruption and a yearning to return to traditional values. Curator: I also see it connecting to wider narratives around East Asian identity. This wave motif in particular often speaks to our understanding of power, resistance, or simply constant transformation, reflecting lived realities across so many diverse Asian diasporas. Editor: Precisely. It's almost as though these covers aren't merely decorative; rather, they are repositories of stories reflecting collective, unspoken longings. They also leave room for us to bring ourselves and find reflections of our lives here, in the space where these stories meet. Curator: Ultimately these covers become incredibly personal spaces, and they allow us to appreciate what that tension—tradition versus modernity— meant not just back then, but in what ways it still informs where we are now. Editor: A reminder of our own crashing waves, maybe? In any case, definitely something worth further reflection.