Battle of the Chickens and Rats (Keisō emaki), Vol. 1 c. 1650s

Curator: This artwork, held in the Harvard Art Museums, is titled "Battle of the Chickens and Rats," and is the first volume of Keisō emaki, with calligraphy by Asai Ryōi. Editor: Immediately, I'm drawn to the almost surreal juxtaposition: delicate brushstrokes depicting such a chaotic, violent scene. The scroll format lends itself well to narrative, but it seems so restrained. Curator: Restraint is key here, considering the sociopolitical commentary. These emaki, or illustrated handscrolls, often satirized authority through anthropomorphic animals. Editor: Ah, I see. The spatial organization, particularly the division between the detailed scenes and the dense calligraphy, reinforces that tension between the visual and the textual, the explicit and the implied. Curator: Precisely! Ryōi's calligraphy likely amplifies the satire, offering another layer of interpretation that resonates with the period's socio-cultural climate. Editor: The minimal palette creates a strangely muted atmosphere given the subject matter. What a fascinating piece; I'll be thinking about this for a while. Curator: Indeed, it serves as a potent reminder of art's capacity to reflect and critique society, even through something as seemingly whimsical as warring animals.