Drie ratten 1826

Editor: So, this is “Three Rats” by Nakamura Hōchū, made in 1826. It's an ink drawing, part of the Ukiyo-e tradition. The rats themselves look pretty docile and gentle. How do you read a piece like this, where the subject matter is… unexpected, maybe? Curator: Well, consider what rats often symbolize: proliferation, adaptability, survival. Yet, here they're rendered with delicacy. Think about how symbols evolve and invert across cultures. In the West, we might focus on disease and infestation, but in some Eastern traditions, rats represent wealth and good fortune because of their association with granaries. Which symbolism resonates with you more strongly, based on these images? Editor: Good fortune isn't what immediately springs to mind looking at these rats... the blank background feels lonely. There’s almost a starkness to the simplicity of the drawing, even though Ukiyo-e art usually has so much happening. Curator: The starkness amplifies the symbol, doesn’t it? By minimizing context, Hōchū forces us to confront the animal itself, and, by extension, the qualities it embodies, without the usual distractions or narrative. Look at how the use of color affects the visual and metaphorical load: The light rats are barely sketched, with dynamic lines. Editor: The use of different shades and textures almost assigns them different roles, as if they aren’t meant to just be viewed as parts of a collective group of rodents. The gray, shaded rat is given importance, a solid structure, as if rooted. It also reminds me of our relationship with these symbols, they take root and change meaning through generations. Curator: Exactly! We project our anxieties, hopes, and memories onto these creatures. Consider also how Japanese aesthetics often embrace asymmetry and suggestion. That half-visible rat almost hints at more. Thank you! Editor: I never thought about how rats are portrayed through such a nuanced lens, I find it fascinating that a simple ink drawing has so much to say!