Frogs 

Shibata Zeshin created 'Frogs' using ink and color on paper, during the late Edo or early Meiji period in Japan. This print is an example of Zeshin's wit and artistic versatility. As an artist working during a time of social change, Zeshin moved through multiple artistic identities. He was trained in lacquer techniques, printmaking and painting and he blurred the boundaries between these media. Here, we see an image of frogs apparently engaged in a tea ceremony. The subject matter has its roots in traditional Japanese art. However, the satirical depiction of the frogs could be a commentary on contemporary society at the time. To understand this work better, you might research the complex social changes that occurred in Japan during Zeshin's lifetime. How did artists participate in the debates about the changing roles and expectations of Japanese society? This charming image is a rich source for understanding the social conditions that shape artistic production.