Flower Arrangement of Suisen (Narcissus) in a Flat Green Dish 1763 - 1828

Editor: This watercolor print from Utagawa Toyohiro, circa 1763-1828, titled "Flower Arrangement of Suisen (Narcissus) in a Flat Green Dish," has such a delicate, almost fragile feel. The single sprig of narcissus in its simple dish, it's so quiet. What do you see in this piece? Curator: Quiet, yes. It’s like a little haiku, isn't it? Spare, yet full of contained emotion. I see, beyond the immediately visible, a reflection of *mono no aware* – a poignant awareness of the transience of things. These narcissi, so meticulously rendered, they will fade. This print will fade. *We* will fade. Editor: Wow. That's...a little intense for a flower arrangement, isn't it? Curator: But aren't flowers always a little intense? Beauty tinged with mortality – a whisper of time’s relentless march? Toyohiro uses such clean lines and muted colours. What feeling do you get from the lines? And the muted colours of aged paper? Does it have any kind of message about this passing of time and beauty for you? Editor: I guess so. The paper definitely looks like it has stories to tell, a history of its own. It almost feels like the artist is saying beauty is fleeting but that appreciating it now is all the more important. It really highlights a brief and beautiful life in full bloom. Curator: Precisely. And consider the Yamato-e influence - the Japanese painting style. There’s an elegant simplicity there that reinforces that message of contemplative appreciation. It’s not just a pretty picture; it’s an invitation to meditate on life’s ephemeral nature. Now, tell me, does contemplating our inevitable ephemerality bum you out or fire you up? Editor: Definitely fire me up! This gives me so much to consider and a greater sense of appreciation, like stop and smell the roses - or narcissus, in this case! Curator: Indeed. Next time I pass some fading blooms, I won’t mourn their loss so much as appreciate their perfect moment.