Crab and Flowers 

Curator: Hokusai's Crab and Flowers, a woodblock print now at the Harvard Art Museums, strikes me as surprisingly whimsical. There's a lightness to it, despite the crab itself. Editor: That contrast is deliberate, I think. Crabs in Japanese art often symbolize protection and shrewdness. Juxtaposed with the delicate cherry blossoms, it challenges the typical associations we have with both. Curator: Precisely! The placement of the crab, almost shielding the blooms, can also be read as a commentary on vulnerability and strength, perhaps alluding to societal power dynamics. Editor: It's as though Hokusai is playing with visual language itself. The crab, an ancient symbol, interacts with the ephemerality of the flowers, inviting us to contemplate cycles of decay and renewal. Curator: This makes me think about the precarity of marginalized identities and the unexpected forms resistance can take. Editor: I agree. Reflecting on Hokusai's symbolism opens up fascinating perspectives.