Picture Book: Selected Insects (Ehon mushi erabi), 2nd of 2 Volumes Possibly 1788

Curator: This vibrant woodblock print, "Picture Book: Selected Insects," is the work of Kitagawa Utamaro, dating from the Edo period. I am immediately struck by the juxtaposition of the snake and lizard. Editor: Yes, the serpent emerging from the foliage has that primal, almost biblical, weight. It evokes such strong associations with temptation, hidden knowledge... Curator: Precisely. And notice how Utamaro, despite the linear style, captures a remarkable sense of movement and textural contrast between the creatures and the plant life. Editor: The way the snake dominates the left page, its sinuous form almost mirroring the calligraphy on the right, suggests a kind of natural order, or perhaps a tension between wildness and cultivated expression. Curator: It speaks to the cultural fascination with the natural world during that period, reflecting on the symbolic potential inherent in everyday creatures. Editor: Seeing this, I am reminded how much art carries: it’s not just a rendering of nature, but a social commentary rendered in ink and paper. Curator: Indeed, it offers a glimpse into how a specific culture views its environment and constructs meaning.