Fans and Flowers 1868 - 1912

Curator: Let’s take a closer look at Shibata Zeshin’s "Fans and Flowers," a painting he worked on between 1868 and 1912, currently residing here at the Metropolitan Museum. The tempera and impasto lend an unusual texture to the piece. Editor: It's striking how those bold primary colors, isolated against the neutral backdrop, almost feel like they are pushing forward out of the plane, giving a powerful presence. Curator: Indeed. The fan as a motif carries considerable symbolic weight. Consider its history as a tool, of course, but also as a mark of status, an object of aesthetic appreciation and performative social ritual across numerous cultures. Editor: Absolutely. Red fans, particularly, often signified power and good fortune in various Asian traditions, while white fans were historically linked with mourning or sometimes aristocratic detachment. But these cultural resonances intersect interestingly with floral arrangements. I’m keen to decode the flower symbolism further: can you offer any insights? Curator: The inclusion of morning glories, for example, often represents transient beauty, given their ephemeral nature, or sometimes even unrequited love in classical Japanese poetry. Editor: What I find fascinating is Zeshin’s manipulation of depth through layered representations. He has placed objects of temporal action in an imagined landscape and uses a two paneled framing to achieve that. It’s quite evocative and layered with cultural context, making this a fascinating piece to decode. Curator: There’s also his striking approach to color and impasto, giving us that push and pull. One also could find how Zeshin balanced flatness and illusionistic depth in this screen and use a structuralist lens to approach its themes and narrative. Editor: So well put! These diverse perspectives –iconography, composition, cultural setting– allows to see different sides and come away appreciating the density of layers and artistry involved. Curator: A truly stimulating piece to study from visual construction, a cultural viewpoint, as well as its deep symbolism.