Worm on Green Leaved Plant 1807 - 1868

Editor: This watercolor piece, “Worm on Green Leaved Plant” by Shibata Zeshin, dated sometime between 1807 and 1868, features vibrant leaves and some... well, worm-like forms. It has a strangely decorative and flattened feel. What jumps out at you? Curator: For me, it's all about the materials and their specific deployment. Zeshin was renowned for his innovative use of lacquer techniques, even within watercolor. Consider the materiality of the paper itself. It’s not merely a ground, but an active participant. Do you see how its texture informs the rendering of light and shadow on the leaves? Editor: I see that now, how the paint seems to sit *on* the paper instead of soaking in. So, you're suggesting the paper itself, its production and availability at the time, plays a key role? Curator: Absolutely! And look at the pigments. Zeshin experimented with urushi lacquer mixed with pigments, a technique usually reserved for craft objects. This piece challenges the boundary between "high art" painting and artisanal craftsmanship. It invites us to consider the socio-economic implications, perhaps a democratizing impulse. Why restrict such techniques to functional objects? Editor: So, he’s elevating the everyday by using techniques that are considered 'lower'? Almost commenting on the value we assign to art versus craft? Curator: Precisely. It disrupts established hierarchies. This seemingly simple image invites us to examine the materials, the making, and ultimately, the consumption and classification of art within its social context. Editor: I never considered the art world having a class structure, I am definitely seeing this piece differently now. Thank you. Curator: My pleasure. It’s exciting when materiality reveals such complex narratives.