CRANE, BUSH CLOVER AND PAMPAS GRASS c. 19th century

Curator: This print, held in the Harvard Art Museums, is entitled "Crane, Bush Clover and Pampas Grass" by Utagawa Hiroshige, who lived from 1797 to 1858. Editor: It’s such a serene image. The tall grass and the crane create a sense of gentle upward movement. Curator: Hiroshige’s work significantly impacted how the West understood Japanese aesthetics and informed Japonisme and Impressionism. The crane itself is laden with symbolism, representing longevity and good fortune in Japanese culture. Editor: Considering the crane as a symbol of longevity within a culture that highly values intergenerational respect, the print seems to subtly advocate for ecological stewardship and the preservation of natural resources. Curator: Indeed. Hiroshige's sensitivity to the environment is a recurring theme in his oeuvre and can be read as a potent commentary on human existence in relation to the natural world. Editor: Seeing it through that lens makes its quiet beauty even more compelling. Curator: Absolutely. It’s a piece that invites us to consider our own place within the broader tapestry of life and time.