Kachō shashin zui (Album of birds and flowers) (vol.3) 1805 - 1827

Editor: This is volume three of Kitao Shigemasa's "Album of Birds and Flowers," with no date specified. The image is split across two pages, with a bird perched on a plum blossom branch on the right. What do you make of this pairing? Curator: The bird and plum blossom are potent symbols in East Asian art. The plum blossoms often represent resilience and renewal, especially blooming in late winter. The bird… what kind of bird do you think it is? Editor: I'm not sure, but its gaze seems to be directed towards the sky. Curator: Precisely. It suggests aspiration, a reaching for something beyond the immediate. And the plum blossoms, contrasted with that upward gaze, create a visual dialogue about the cyclical nature of life, hope, and perhaps even fleeting beauty. Editor: I hadn't considered the cyclical aspect before. It's amazing how much symbolism can be packed into such a small image. Curator: Indeed. Each element contributes to a deeper cultural narrative that resonates through time.