September 1905 Possibly 1905 - 1910

Editor: Right, let's talk about this print called "September 1905", though it might be from a few years later, made by Asai Chū. It's a linocut, with elements of woodblock printing, featuring a bunch of frolicking frogs! It gives me a sort of playful, graphic feel, almost like a page from a children’s book. What do you make of it? Curator: Ah, Asai Chū! This piece leaps out, doesn’t it? For me, it's more than playful; it's like a little portal. A glimpse into a fleeting moment captured with such charming simplicity. Those concentric lines – aren't they like whispers of time rippling outwards? The muted palette creates this sense of wistful nostalgia… What do you think about the influence of Japonisme in this print, with its ukiyo-e sensibilities adapted to a linocut? Editor: I hadn’t thought about it that way, but I see what you mean about Japonisme. The composition and the linework remind me a little of Hokusai's prints. Do you think the subject matter - frogs - have a specific cultural significance here? Curator: Frogs, absolutely! They’re practically overflowing with symbolism in Japanese culture! They represent good luck, safe travels, and even… wealth accumulating! But there is such interesting contrast: this simplicity and the complex history informing the work... Editor: It's fascinating how a seemingly simple print can have such depth. I'll definitely look at this work – and frogs – a little differently now! Curator: Exactly! That's the magic, isn't it? To look, to feel, to see something new each time! The way that frogs pop into the composition is incredible, so full of history and narrative in such an accessible work.