PICNIC UNDER MAPLE TREE 

Editor: This is "Picnic Under Maple Tree" by Oku Teishō. The maple leaves are so vibrant! What does this scene evoke for you? Curator: The maple, or *momiji*, is deeply symbolic. Its changing colors evoke the passage of time, the beauty of impermanence. Note how the figures are placed beneath it, partaking in a ritual of observation and appreciation. Editor: A ritual? Curator: Yes, like *momijigari*, the autumn tradition of viewing the changing leaves. The artist is capturing not just a scene, but a cultural memory, a shared experience of beauty and reflection. It connects us to generations who have found solace in nature's cycles. Editor: That's fascinating; I hadn’t considered the cultural weight of a simple picnic scene.