Glaukos Possibly 1965

Curator: This is "Glaukos" by Hideo Hagiwara, a Japanese artist born in 1913. It’s a striking woodcut, currently residing here at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: The black and white is instantly haunting, isn't it? Like a memory surfacing from the deep. The stark contrasts really amplify the otherworldly feel. Curator: Indeed. The figure of Glaukos himself, a mortal fisherman turned sea god in Greek mythology, is fascinating. Hagiwara emphasizes his transformation, suspended between worlds. Note the hand reaching down to him from the upper corner. Editor: That hand! Is it beckoning or warning? It could be both, I suppose. The heavy patterning of the seaweed and coral almost feels like a cage, despite the open water. Curator: The density adds to the sense of mystery. Glaukos’ transformation was not always seen as a gift; it was often associated with madness and loss of humanity. The imagery speaks to that tension. Editor: So, in a way, the image becomes a meditation on identity, on what we gain and lose when we embrace change. What a powerfully ambivalent perspective on becoming! Curator: Precisely. Hagiwara presents a vision of transformation that acknowledges both the allure and the potential cost. Editor: Leaving us to ponder our own thresholds, wouldn't you say?