"THE HATCHING OF A TENGU" Possibly 1855

Curator: Here we have Hiegan’s "The Hatching of a Tengu" from the collection of the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: Oh, this is deliciously weird! It feels like a fever dream—all sharp angles and earthy tones. Curator: The composition presents a tengu emerging from an egg; note the creature’s avian features melded with anthropomorphic qualities. Editor: Right? The way it's clambering out, half-bird, half… grumpy old man? It’s kind of unsettling, but also, I can't look away. Curator: The piece invites contemplation on the symbolism of birth, identity, and the liminal space between worlds. Editor: Maybe it's about the chaos of new beginnings—all that raw energy trying to break free. I feel like I’ve been there, metaphorically speaking, of course. Curator: An intriguing interpretation, indeed. A confluence of visual semiotics worth further consideration. Editor: Well, whether it's high art or high strangeness, I think we can agree it’s a conversation starter!