Calender for 1951 Composed of Four Sheets c. 20th century

Curator: Let’s look at Serizawa Keisuke’s “Calender for 1951 Composed of Four Sheets,” residing here at the Harvard Art Museums. It’s an intriguing blend of the functional and the aesthetic. Editor: My first thought? It feels handmade, personal. Like a loving gift created to mark the passing of time in a beautiful way. Curator: Indeed. Serizawa was deeply invested in the mingei movement, which championed handcrafted art for everyday use. This calendar, then, is not just about marking dates. Editor: Right! It's about elevating the ordinary. Look at the floral patterns, the colors – they’re not mass-produced; they're intentional, soulful. A celebration of craft. Curator: Exactly. It emphasizes the value of labor, of mindful production against the rise of industrialization. The materials themselves speak to this philosophy. Editor: I love how it blends Japanese aesthetics with the practicality of a Western calendar. It's a quiet, lovely merging of worlds. Curator: It makes one consider the daily rhythms of life, doesn't it? Editor: Absolutely. This calendar reminds me to savor each day, to find beauty in the mundane, and value the work of human hands.