Vampire cat of Nabeshima 1853 - 1857

Editor: So, this striking woodblock print is titled "Vampire cat of Nabeshima", dating from the mid-1850s by Utagawa Kunisada. What first jumps out at me is the sheer dynamism, like the figure is caught mid-leap in some kind of supernatural drama. It's equal parts theatrical and unsettling! What’s your interpretation of this work? Curator: Ah, unsettling is the perfect word! Kunisada, ever the showman, knew how to pluck at those cultural strings. Think of it as a scene from a Kabuki play splashed onto a print. That theatricality, that overt display of emotion, that's pure ukiyo-e. Now, the vampire cat... that's tapping into a deep well of Japanese folklore, right? Cats with supernatural powers, beings that could shift between the human and animal worlds – potent symbols! Tell me, does that facial expression speak of villainy to you, or something more… tormented? Editor: Tormented, definitely. Those wide eyes and bared claws read more as desperate than purely evil. It's almost like the cat is caught in a transformation. Is there anything specific about the Nabeshima clan that would make this a culturally resonant subject? Curator: Exactly! There were whispers of scandals, tales of demonic interference. Kunisada gives us a glimpse into a society grappling with unseen forces, anxieties bubbling beneath the surface of everyday life. Did you notice how even the clouds have an almost menacing feel? Nothing’s just decoration; it all whispers secrets. Editor: Absolutely! It adds to the whole sense of unease. I came in thinking 'monster movie', but now I see a society’s fears personified. Curator: Yes, precisely. It reminds us that art, even the seemingly fantastical, often reflects very real societal undercurrents. Plus, now I need to find a Kabuki performance of the story; it’s definitely out there somewhere!