White Crane Flying across the Sun's Disc 1835

This woodblock print depicting a white crane and the sun was made by Yashima Gakutei, likely in the first half of the 19th century. In Japanese art, the crane is a symbol of longevity and good fortune, a conventional emblem often used for decorative purposes. But in the hands of an artist like Gakutei, such imagery could serve a more critical function. Gakutei belonged to a circle of artists and intellectuals associated with the publisher Tsutaya Jūzaburō, whose artistic productions were often used to convey political messages. So this image could well carry veiled references to contemporary events, as a subtle way of eluding censorship. As art historians, we can look to historical and cultural sources such as diaries, letters, and other prints to understand the meaning that these images might have had at the time. In this way, we can start to understand the complex relationship between art, politics, and society.