White Tea Container (Shiro nakatsugi) and Camellia, from the series Five Colors of Tea Utensils (Chaki goshiki shose), with poems by Suikiotei Baikei, Shichukan Hayazawa and Garyuen c. 1817 - 1819

Curator: This delicate woodblock print, circa 1800, is by Kubo Shunman, titled "White Tea Container and Camellia." It's part of a series exploring tea utensils. Editor: My first impression is one of understated elegance, the soft hues and careful composition evoke a sense of calm ritual. Curator: Precisely. Tea culture was incredibly codified, laden with symbolic meaning, and here we see the artist capturing that very specific cultural moment. The poems are also very important. Editor: Yes, the poems add another layer, inviting contemplation. The camellia, though, a potent symbol. In Japan, it represents fleeting beauty. Curator: Absolutely, the presence of the flower offers a visual reminder of mortality, which is an essential aspect of the Way of Tea. Editor: This print really encapsulates how something as simple as preparing tea can reflect deeper philosophical ideas. Curator: Indeed, and how artistic representations of that ritual can communicate a complex range of societal values.