Flying Goose 1877 - 1897

Watanabe Seitei's "Flying Goose" is a painting that offers us a glimpse into Japanese art during a time of significant cultural change. Seitei lived through the end of the Edo period and into the Meiji era, a time when Japan was rapidly modernizing and opening itself to the West. Seitei was among the first artists dispatched by the government to study abroad, spending time in Paris. He blended traditional Japanese painting techniques with Western styles, like aerial perspective, and subjects. Look how he captures the goose in flight. It's a symbol of freedom and travel, themes that resonate with the artist's own life and the broader cultural moment. In a society undergoing dramatic transformation, Seitei's work reflects a negotiation between honoring traditional artistic practices and embracing new influences from abroad. The goose isn't just a bird, it embodies the spirit of a nation on the move.